If you have been convicted of asex crime in Ohio, one of the requirements of your sentence is sex offender registration. But do you have to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life? The answer: it depends.
According to current state law, there are three levels of registration for convicted sex offenders: Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III. The tier level assigned to a person corresponds to his/her conviction.
The following is a breakdown of the three levels of Ohio sex offender registration:
- Tier I – Tier I offenders are required to register every 12 months over a period of 15 years. However, the time period can be reduced by five years (i.e. 10 years) if the individual avoids committing any felonies or sex crimes and successfully completes probation/parole and sex offender treatment. These offenders are not subject to community and neighborhood notification requirements. Sex crimes such as sexual imposition, voyeurism, pandering obscenity, child enticement with sexual motivation, and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor (less than four years older than the victim) fall under Tier I.
- Tier II – Tier II offenders are required to register every 180 days (i.e. six months) over a period of 25 years. Individuals under this tier level are not subject to community notification requirements. Sex crimes includingprostitution, pandering obscenity involving a minor, child endangering, gross sexual imposition (when the victim is under 13 years of age), andkidnapping with sexual motivation falls under Tier II.
- Tier III – Tier III offenders must register every 90 days for the rest of their lives. Such individuals are subject to community and neighborhood notification requirements. Sex crimes including sexual assault,rape, murder with sexual motivation, kidnapping of a minor, and felonious assault with sexual motivation fall under Tier III.
Furthermore, offenders in Tiers II and III will be included in the state’s Electronic Sex Offender Registration and Notification online database. This enables the public to look up an offender on the internet.
The consequences of a sex crime conviction and the associated sex offender registration requirements can ruin your personal and professional reputation. If you are facing conviction or registration, ourCleveland criminal defense attorneys atPatituce & Associates can protect your rights and future. With three former prosecutors on our legal team, we possess the extensive knowledge of Ohio law and court system to guide you through the criminal justice process. Do not hesitate to get experienced and skilled legal representation on your side.
For more information,contact us and speak with our Cleveland lawyer today.