The sex offender registry is a lifetime scarlet letter that people convicted of certain crimes carry with them. Currently, with one exception for certain minors, there is no way to be removed from the sex offender registry. Once a court orders you to register it is a lifetime requirement that carries with it stigma, embarrassment, and potential criminal liability. Given the requirements of sex offender registration it is important to know what crimes can require registration and how a Phoenix sex crimes attorney can help. Arizona law splits registration eligible crimes into two categories: (1) those that require registration, and (2) those in which the judge has discretion to require registration.
A.R.S. § 13-3821 provides a list of mandatory registration crimes in which a judge is required to impose sex offender registration. These crimes include:
If you are convicted of any of these crimes, whether by trial or by plea, then you must register as a sex offender for life
The following crimes allow, but do not require, a judge to impose sex offender registration:
If you have been arrested and believe you face sex offender registration it is imperative to get legal representation as quickly as possible. Sex offender registration is a life changing requirement that affects every facet of your life, and is not something you should face without sound and aggressive representation. Call the AZ Defenders today or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. The sooner you get in touch, the sooner our Phoenix criminal defense lawyers can help.