Registration as a Sex Offender

Oakland Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers

One of the most damaging and lasting consequences of being convicted of a sex crime is mandatory registration as a sex offender. Long after your prison time has been served and you have paid your dues to society, you will still be required to register as a sex offender in your community. This alone can jeopardize your future, career opportunities, and relationships.

If you have been accused of committing a sex crime in the State of California, it is important to seek legal counsel immediately. An experienced Oakland sex crimes defense lawyer can build a solid and formidable defense against these serious charges and help protect your future. We proudly help clients in Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, Concord, and the surrounding areas!

California Penal Code 290 PC addresses sex offender registration in California and requires anyone who is convicted of the following crimes to register:

• Rape
• Sexual Battery
• Lewd acts with a Minor
• Child Pornography
• Sexual assault with a Minor
• Pimping and Pandering with a minor
• Incest
• Forced sexual acts
• Indecent exposure
• And more

Requirements of Sex Offender Registration

If the judge orders you to register as a sex offender for the remainder of your life, you will be required by law to:

• Provide your primary address to law enforcement agencies
• Notify law enforcement of any changes to your contact information
• Register annually, on your birthday, or even more frequently
• Sexually violent predators must update information every 90 days
• Disclose your registration as a sex offender to employers if your job works with children
• Admission to Megan's Law Website database

Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

If you fail to register as a sex offender, fail to comply with yearly registration, or do not update law enforcement when you move, you will be convicted of failure to register as a sex offender.

The penalties for failing to register include:

• Up to 1 year in jail if your sex crime conviction was a misdemeanor
• Up to 3 years in California State Prison if your sex crime conviction was a felony
• Possible strike on your record

To prove that you failed to register as a sex offender, the prosecution must show that you knew of your obligation and willfully did not fulfill your requirements to register. If you were unaware of your requirements, or if there is a language barrier preventing an individual from registering, there may be an opportunity for an Oakland defense attorney to prove the failure to register was not willful.