San Jose Sex Offender Registration Attorney

How to Register as a Sex Offender in the State of California

Under Cal. Penal Code § 290.46, also known as Megan’s Law, any person who is convicted of certain sex crimes is required by law to register as a sex offender with a local law enforcement agency and re-register annually within several days of his or her birthday. Listings within the registry will contain each offender’s name, address, picture, characteristics such as hair color or tattoos, and the exact offense(s) committed.

Registrants are also required to provide work and school addresses, any aliases, fingerprints, a driver’s license, and descriptions of owned vehicles.

Length of Time Offenders Are Required to Remain in the Registry

The amount of time a registrant may be required to remain on the sex offender registry depends on the nature of the crime committed:

• Tier one – Conviction of a tier-one crime will result in no less than 10 years on the sex offender registry. Tier-one offenses include but are not limited to sexual battery, setting up a meeting with a minor for lewd purposes, misdemeanor child pornography, and indecent exposure.
• Tier two – A tier-two sexual offense leads to at least 20 years on the sex offender registry. Tier-two offenses include but are not limited to incest, statutory rape, oral sex with a minor under 14, and other lewd acts with a minor under 14.
• Tier three – Tier-three crimes will land you a lifelong spot on the sex offender registry. Tier-three crimes include but are not limited to rape, aiding rape in any way, aggravated sexual assault of a minor, and continuous sexual assault.

Failure to register or re-register can yield serious consequences and an even longer time on the sex offender registry, so it is imperative that you seek legal representation from a criminal defense lawyer in Santa Clara County if you have failed to register on time.