One of the most notorious criminal convictions a person can receive in the United States is one involving sex crimes. While being a convicted sex offender is often accompanied by traditional legal punishments such as fines, time in jail or prison, and probation, these crimes also have repercussions that last well after a person has “done their time.” Those convicted of sex offenses face a lifetime of inclusion on the sex offender registry.
The sex offender registry is maintained by the state and includes information about every person living in it who has been convicted of a sex crime. Registries are available for viewing by the public and reveal a person’s address, a recent photo of them, and what they were convicted up. In many instances, registered sex offenders must report regularly to the police and have limitations on where they can live, work, and even where they can go.
Why Does the Sex Offender Registry Exist?
Simply put, the first sex offender registry was created in the early 1990s to track offenders and deter them from repeating offenses. They initially weren’t available to the public and inclusion on them wasn’t permanent. As the laws were amended, so were the conditions of a sex offender registry—it became available to the public, lasts for a person’s lifetime, and has developed strict requirements.
Is Sex Offender Registration Permanent in Florida?
While sex offender registration laws are designed to protect the public from offenders who might be a concern for their community, some feel as though they go too far with making a person pay for a crime.
In certain instances, a person might be able to have themselves removed from the sex offender registry. However, the process can be difficult and is not available for those with certain crimes on their record. Additionally, a convicted sex offender must have been off probation for 25 years and have no additional criminal offenses during that time.
Sex crimes that make a person ineligible to be removed from the sex offender registry in Florida include:
- Sexual crimes involving children under the age of 12
- Sexual crimes on the elderly
- Kidnapping
- False imprisonment
- Rape
If you believe that you might be eligible to have your name removed from the sex offender registry, you need to file a petition with a court where your conviction occurred. If your conviction was in Florida, our Tampa sex crime lawyers are ready to help you. Our team is ready to listen to your story during a free and confidential consultation to help you decide if you might be eligible to have your name removed from the sex offender registry. We have a long history of results and are proud to fight for the rights of our clients when they need help the most.
Call our Tampa sex crimes lawyers now at (813) 221-4200 to have your questions about sex offender registration answered by our team.