This is the fifth post in my series on the handling of sex offenses in Phoenix, Arizona. My last article discussed probation after pleading to a sex offense. It is important to understand the requirements of probation before deciding to plead guilty. In this post I will address the registration requirements which accompany a conviction. If you have been arrested for failing to register then it is important that you contact a criminal defense attorney immediately.
One convicted of a sex offense is required to maintain information with Arizona’s sex offender registry. Such information includes one’s name, address, contact information, and more. Much of this information will be viewable by the general public. It is the responsibility of the defendant to ensure that this information is kept up to date. In other words, if you have a prior conviction and you change addresses then it is your responsibility to update your information with the registry. It must also be understood that one who was sent to prison, for a sexual offense, will be required to maintain registration for the remainder of their life.
It is a crime to maintain your information in the registry. Arizona will charge such cases as a Class 6 “undesignated” felony. This means that one may find themselves convicted of either a misdemeanor or a felony. It is important to understand that, if you are arrested for another offense and have also failed to register, then you will face charges on the crime for which you were arrested as well as charges for failing to register. If you are serving probation then failing to register can also be a reason for the Court to revoke your probation.
If you have been arrested for failing to register then contact my office today to speak with a lawyer. Counsel can challenge whether you were, in fact, required to register. If you did have a valid requirement in place then your attorney can negotiate with the prosecution and attempt to reach a resolution which keeps you out of prison and reinstates any supervision you may be on. It is important that you take the situation very seriously; while failing to register may not seem like a “big deal,” the fact of the matter is that Courts and prosecutors take the matter very seriously.
My practice focuses on protecting the rights of the accused and I believe that everyone is entitled to their day in Court. I am ready to assist you. I also service other Maricopa County cities such as Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Chandler, and Gilbert as well as assisting Pima County residents in Tucson.
