The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) is part of a
comprehensive federal law that requires each state to maintain a system
for monitoring convicted sex offenders following their release from prison.
Sex offender registration is one of the harshest penalties that anyone
convicted of a
sex crime can face. It makes it difficult to maintain employment and find suitable
housing. Not to mention that it follows you around for the rest of your life.
So, what crimes require you to register as a sex offender?
Mandatory Sex Offender Registration
California Penal Code Section 290 features a long list of crimes that require
mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. A few of the more common
crimes include:
- Murder, kidnapping, and assault, committed with the intent to commit rape,
attempted rape, sodomy, a lewd or lascivious act with a minor, oral copulation
with a minor, or sexual penetration by use of force or fear
- Rape
- Sexual battery
- Pimping or pandering a minor
- Aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 years of age
- Contacting a minor with the intent to commit certain felonies
- Arranging a meeting with a minor for lewd purposes
- Showing obscene material to minors
- Child pornography
- Indecent exposure
- Child molestation
- Solicitation to commit a sex crime
Regardless of severity, sex offender registration is mandatory upon either
a felony or misdemeanor conviction of the crimes mentioned above. Sex
offender registration is also required for different forms of the crimes listed.
Discretionary Sex Offender Registration
You don’t have to be convicted of one of the crimes listed above
in order to be required to register as a sex offender. California law
gives each judge the discretion to require you to register as a sex offender,
regardless of the crime you are convicted of. Under California Penal Code
290.006, a judge could sentence you to register as a sex offender for
the rest of your life if it is proven that you committed a crime with
the intent to sexually satisfy or arouse yourself; an example would be
kidnapping. If you committed the act of kidnapping with the intent to
commit sex acts with the victim, the judge could order you to register
as a sex offender, without technically committing a sex crime.
If you have been charged with a sex crime, you should immediately contact our
Modesto criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of Mark Girdner. We are available to meet with you
and your family to privately and confidentially discuss your case.
Call (209) 326-1533 for a free initial consultation.