What Is It Like To Be on Texas' Sex Offender Registry?

Posted By The Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass || 2-Jan-2015

State-wide sex offender registries were established with good intentions – to alert parents when a sex offender moves into their neighborhood. However, whether the usefulness of the Texas sex offender registry outweighs its potential for inflicting harm has been called into question in recent years. Specifically, criminal defense lawyers point out that most victims of sex crimes know their abusers and that the majority of individuals on the registry are not likely to attack strangers. If you’ve been accused of a sex crime, you should be aware that life on the registry can be extremely challenging. Hiring a criminal attorney is your best option for avoiding these problems.

Registry Categories
Individuals can be required to register as sex offenders for committing a variety of offenses – from aggravated sexual assault to indecent exposure for urinating in public while intoxicated. In Texas, high-risk offenders and low-risk offenders are both required to register. Additionally, unlike other states, Texas publicizes the names and addresses of juvenile offenders. This means that all offenders are essentially treated the same.

Social Consequences
When neighbors and other individuals discover that a registered sex offender has moved to their neighborhood or attends their school, the social consequences can be dire. Even if that individual made a mistake as a child and has long since atoned for it, that individual will pay for it for the rest of his or her life. It is not uncommon for registered sex offenders to receive death threats and to bear the burden of social isolation.

Work Issues
It can be very challenging for registered sex offenders to find work. Individuals are required by law to disclose felony convictions on employment applications. Even if a person was convicted of a misdemeanor sex crime, it’s all too easy to later be convicted of a felony simply for moving and then failing to update the registry in time.

At the Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass, you’ll find a caring legal team with the expertise you need to improve your chances of winning a favorable outcome for your case. Our criminal defense team handles cases involving sex crimes, child sex abuse, aggravated assault, and many other types of criminal charges. Residents in Dallas and throughout Texas can schedule a consultation with our law office by calling .