Can I Remove My Name From the Sex Offender Registry

 Posted on September 20, 2024 in Sex Crimes

People who are convicted of sex crimes in Texas are required to join a sex offender registry. These offenses include:

• Rape
• Sexual assault
• Indecency with a minor
• Possession of child pornography
• Solicitation of a minor

The sex offender registry is open and available to the public. Being in this database exposes a person to public humiliation and ridicule. Many times, it limits where an offender can live because residential communities often bar sex offenders from moving in. It also limits employment opportunities because many businesses do not want to suffer bad publicity if they are discovered to be hiring a sex offender.

Getting off the list, or deregistering, is not an easy process. This article will discuss how sex offenders can be deregistered from the system, but it is best to consult a Texas criminal defense attorney about whether you are eligible for deregistration.

How Does the Sex Offender Registry Work?

Once a sex offender is released from prison, he or she is required to provide local law enforcement with certain information, including his or her name, address, photo, and crime. This information will then be entered into a publicly accessible sex offender database which is maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS). Local law enforcement bodies also maintain their own registries available to the public.

Sometimes, law enforcement notifies the public in local newspapers or other publications about the sex offender’s presence. In more serious cases, law enforcement may mail postcards to all residences and businesses in the community warning about the offender.

How Can I Deregister From the Sex Offender Database?

Not all sex offenders can deregister. The following eligibility criteria must be met:

• You must be a first-time offender.
• You must have been on the registry for at least ten years.
• You must have completed sex offender treatment programs.

If you meet all applicable requirements, you may then apply for deregistration by submitting Form 3246. The application costs $50.

There is no guarantee that an application will be approved, but some sex offenders have higher chances than others. Someone who was convicted as a juvenile, for example, may be approved for deregistration upon turning 18 if certain criteria are met.

Sex offenders are grouped into tiers based on the crimes they commit, with Tier 1 being the least egregious. Tier 1 offenders are more likely to receive approval upon applying for deregistration as long as certain conditions are met.

Contact a Weatherford, TX Sex Crime Defense Lawyer

Prison time for sex offenses may be limited, but an offender can be listed on the sex crime registry for his entire life. If you or a loved one has been charged with or convicted of a sex crime, reach out to Soraya Joslin, P.C.. We have almost 30 years of experience working on both sides of the criminal justice system, and we will use that to your advantage. Let us create a legal strategy to protect your rights and your future. Schedule a free consultation with a Parker County, TX criminal defense attorney by calling 817-599-7005 today.