An introduction to the Texas Sex Offender Registration Program

Posted By Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass || 23-Jan-2015

Until they are confronted personally by criminal charges and/or a criminal conviction, many people never learn much about sex offender registration guidelines. Texas legislation outlines requirements for the identification of people convicted of qualifying sex offenses, and can have a profound impact on those peoples' lives long into the future.

The Texas Department of Public Safety explains that the state's sex offender registry requires convicted sex offenders, no matter their age, to register with their local law enforcement authority so that they can be monitored and notification of their conviction can be provided to the public. The information about a registered sex offender that is made available to the public can include everything from his or her photograph to his or her name and address. Information regarding the identities and locations of registered sex offenders is maintained on local and state databases, which are available the public through several different avenues.

According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, there are numerous offenses for which a convicted person can be required to register as a sex offender in the state, including indecent exposure and online solicitation of a minor. There are also multiple guidelines that convicted sex offenders are expected to follow in order to comply with registration requirements. For instance, anyone convicted of a sex offense only have seven days from the time he or she is released from incarceration to register with his or her area law enforcement authority. Registered offenders must also continually update their contact and location information, and notify authorities of any changes to their residential, academic or professional information within an allotted amount of time.

It is also important to note that people who are convicted of sex offenses are not only required to notify law enforcement agencies in their region, but must also inform their place of schooling and/or work in many cases as well. Similarly, convicted offenders are obligated to notify law enforcement authorities in any other county where they spend more than 48 hours at a time.