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What are the two types of sex offender registration in Texas?

What are the two types of sex offender registration in Texas? Sex offender registration is required when any offender is convicted in the state of Texas.  It is important to be aware that sex offender registration is assigned even if a person is not convicted and only receives deferred adjudication for their crime. There are a number things that fall under the category of sex crimes and thankfully the Texas Sex Offender Registry requires all offenders to be chronicled and tracked.

There are two types of sex offender registration in Texas. The first is a  10-year registration which starts after their release. So, if the offender serves any amount of time, their 10-year registration period starts once they are released. The other type of registration is for life and most sex offenders in Texas fall under this category. Also, the ruling for any sex offender registration case can change and become harsher for a person even after they enter a plea.

There are many rules that a sex offender must live under in the state of Texas, familiarizing yourself with each one will help you feel a greater sense of safety and help you to better protect your loved ones.

Video Transcript

Shawn McDonald: “Ok, so there’s two types of registration in Texas. There’s a 10 year registration. So it’s for an indecency by exposure. Say you expose yourself to a child. You’re placed on… if you’re placed on probation for a third degree felony, indecency by exposure, then you must register for 10 years post release from probation. So if you get 5 years probation, you have to register starting after that 5 year probation has completed. So it will be a 15 year registration. Does that make sense?”

Interviewer: “Yeah.”

Shawn McDonald: “You have to register with the city and/or county that you live in. If you live in the city limits, you register with the city. If you live outside the city limits you register with the county. And that registration is typically yearly. And you just have to remain at the same job or the same household. And if you switch, you must notify them before you switch, and after you switch. Then there’s the lifetime registration which is the more serious crimes: the touching of children, the penetration, things like that. Then it’s a lifetime registration, same type of city, municipality, or county.”

Disclaimer

*This blog post “What are the two types of sex offender registration in Texas?” is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.