June 15, 2015 Punishment is a lifelong process for people who have been convicted of any sex offense, especially when children are involved. Federal law requires that all states maintain registries of convicted sex offenders in each community, and this is a task the local law enforcement agencies take very seriously. The penalties for failure to comply with court orders following a prison release or sex offense conviction can potentially become a very serious felony issue. The window for reporting to the local sheriff in the county of residence is very short, and maintaining an updated information record is incumbent upon the convicted sex offender. In addition, those who are classified as dangerous sex offenders are required to update their residential information more often. Depending on court classification, failure to report a change before moving to a region can be very serious if a willful misrepresentation or failure to provide accurate information can be proved by the state. Common Sex Offenders While sex offenses carry a very negative social stigma, the truth is that many sex offenders get convicted on questionable evidence because the courts are so aggressive about prosecuting the charges. According the the federal code, all convicted sex offenders must register with the local sheriff in the county they will reside within 72 hours before establishing residence. Required information includes the actual physical address of the offenders residence, including landlord information, along with a comprehensive report of contact information. In addition, convicted sex offenders are required to update their personal and residential information with the local sheriff within 72 hours of their birthday each year. Dangerous Sex Offenders This is a higher category of convicted sex offenders and requires that updating of personal contact information and residence location be provided every six months, as opposed to the annual requirement for lower level conviction classification. Information is normally scrutinized more closely by the state, and the potential for further sex offense charges is always a social risk component. The outcome of a charge for failure to report a change in personal information or an establishment of a residence by a sex offender is similar to other felony criminal charges in terms of material case facts. The evidence indicating purposeful deceit in compliance can potentially trigger a 10-30 year penitentiary term in a federal institution. It is important to remember that the law is a federal law, and the egregious nature of failure to report is central to the need for pressing charges, as well as any other pending charges. Contact us today for more information!