In Texas, the Sex Offender Registration Program is in place to help notify the public about sex offenders. Both adult and juvenile sex offenders have to register with the police in their city and county that they are living in the area. On top of that, sex offenders also have to periodically report to their local law enforcement agencies about their registration information for verification.
As a sex offender who is registered with the program, it’s illegal to fail to comply with the program. If, for instance, you move, you must update your information as soon as the changes take place. If you fail to register as a sex offender, you could be prosecuted for a felony.
If you’ve been convicted of being a sex offender, you will have to register. The public will be notified about your registration in a number of ways. First, the Texas Department of Public Safety has your name in a large database. This information is primarily free to the public and includes all of the information you’ve provided to local or state law enforcement.
Each enforcement agency also has a registry that they public can access. They may look for sex offenders in the community to be aware of their locations. Sometimes, sex offender registrations are published in the newspapers or circulars, so the public is very aware of their presence. If the offender who is registering is a high-risk offender, the public will be notified by mail.
Being charged with a sex crime is bad enough but having to face a life of scrutiny is a real challenge. If you’ve been accused of a sex crime, defend yourself and your rights. You have legal options open to you.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety, “Texas Sex Offender Registration Program” Sep. 26, 2014