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Clearwater Registration as a Sex Offender or Sexual Predator Lawyer
Sex crime convictions can result in a requirement that you register as a sex offender or sexual predator in Clearwater. The sex offender registry is public, which means that anybody can access it and see that you were convicted of a sex crime like a lewd and lascivious crime or sexual battery. For many people, this is a life-altering requirement, since it can have an effect on your ability to find a place to live, find a job, secure a professional license, or even find a romantic partner. At Hanlon Law, Clearwater sex crime attorney Will Hanlon can provide a strong defense for people accused of sex crimes.
When you register as a sex offender, you are required to report to your local sheriff's office. The number of times that you need to report depends on what the offense was that required you to register. Some sex offenders need to report twice a year, while others need to report four times a year. All sexual predators and juvenile sex offenders are required to report four times a year, including their birth months.
You need to give information such as your name, date of birth, social security number, race, sex, height, weight, fingerprints, palm prints, hair and eye color, tattoos, photograph, convictions, passport information, immigration status, professional license information, job, residential address, vehicle info, telephone numbers, email addresses, and other Internet identifiers, including webpages. All of this information can become public record unless it is exempt under a specific code section.
You also need to update your driver's license within 48 hours of changing your residence as a sex offender or sexual predator. This requirement exists for the rest of your life. Simply moving does not take away the requirement that you keep updating your sex offender registration. The sex offender registry is updated continuously.
If you are a minor who has been convicted as an adult for a sex crime that requires registration, and you meet other criteria to register, or you were adjudicated delinquent on or after July 1, 2007 for a qualifying sexual offense in Florida or a similar crime elsewhere when you were 14 or older, you need to register as a sex offender. An attorney can advise you on whether these provisions apply to your situation.
Violations that require registration include kidnapping of a child under age 13, false imprisonment when the victim is a minor, sexual battery, lewd or lascivious battery involving force or a victim under age 12, lewd or lascivious molestation involving a minor under age 12, conspiracy to commit lewd or lascivious crimes, or violations of similar laws in other jurisdictions.
In some instances, you can petition the court to remove the requirement of registration under Florida Statute section 943.04354, known as the Romeo and Juliet law. This permits certain people who meet specific criteria to ask for relief from the burdens of needing to register as either a sex offender or a sexual predator. The criteria include the victim being 14-17, being no more than four years younger than the perpetrator, and having had consensual sexual activity. The perpetrator must not have any other convictions that require sex offender registration. In other words, if you were charged with a lewd and lascivious crime at age 15, and then you were charged again when you were 18, you cannot petition to have the registration requirement removed.
Hire a Skillful Attorney in Clearwater for a Sex Crime ChargeYou should not assume that a conviction is assured for a sex crime. However, for many people, lifelong registration as a sex offender or sexual predator is an extremely onerous requirement. Even if you have served a prison sentence, it can be challenging to face the possibility of being ostracized by society due to the appearance of your name on the sex offender registry. It is important to secure the services of a knowledgeable sex crime attorney if you are worried about registration as a sex offender or sexual predator. Our founder, Will Hanlon, has been providing criminal defense representation in Clearwater since 1994 and may be able to help. You can call Hanlon Law at 727.897.5413 or complete our online form.
