Posted on November 20, 2022 in Sex Crimes

Are Sex Offenders Required To Notify Neighbors and Employers in Arizona?

If you are convicted of a sex offense, you do not have to directly notify your neighbors and employers. However, you must register annually with Arizona’s sex offender public registry. Depending on the seriousness of the offense, the state may notify the community, local schools, and your employer.

The Arizona Sex Offender Registry

You have to register with the Arizona sex offender registry if you:

• Plead guilty to a listed sex crime (see below);
• Are convicted of a listed sex crime;
• Are found “guilty except insane”; or
• Are found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Even attempted sex crimes can trigger the obligation to register as a sex offender.

The National Sex Offender Public Website

Your name and details will also appear on the National Sex Offender Public Website if you are required to register as a sex offender in any part of the United States, including US territories such as Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Moving to Arizona From Out of State

If your state requires you to register as a sex offender and you move to Arizona, you must register in Arizona. You must also register in Arizona if your offense requires registration in Arizona, regardless of whether your home state requires registration for that particular offense.

Crimes That Require Registration

Arizona maintains a long list of sex-related offenses that require registration as a sex offender, including (but not limited to):

• The kidnapping of a minor without parental authority;
• Sexual conduct with a minor;
• Sexual assault;
• Child molestation; and
• Child sex trafficking.

All told, 17 offenses appear on this list. The judge can require you to register as a sex offender if you committed an unlisted sex-related offense, as long as your motivation was sexual gratification.

Levels of Sex Offenders

Arizona divides sex offenders into three classes–Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. Level 3 includes the most dangerous offenders, while Level 1 includes the least dangerous offenders. The Arizona sex offender assessment screening determines which level applies to you by considering 19 factors, including (but not limited to):

•  Your prior criminal history;
• The number of victims;
• Whether you used force;
• Your mental health; and
• Your behavior during incarceration.

Ultimately, the decision is subjective.

Community Notification

Nobody will require you to notify your community of your sex offender status. Instead, Arizona will do it. Your notification requirements kick in as soon as you get out of prison or when you move into a new community. The extent of the notification requirements depends on your offense level:

• Level 1 offenders: The police will maintain a file on you, and they might notify people who share a residence with you.
• Level 2 offenders: The authorities will distribute a flyer to the local community and nearby schools. They will also notify your employer. Local newspapers may report your presence, and people may post warnings online.
• Level 3 offenders: The same as for level 2.

Even if you remain at the same location, you will have to re-register as a sex offender every year.

Termination of Registration Requirements

Sex offenders must re-register every year for the rest of their lives, with the following exceptions:

• If you were a juvenile at the time of the crime, registration requirements might expire when you complete probation or when you turn 25.
• If you were convicted of sexual conduct with a minor, you can petition the court to end registration requirements if the sex was consensual, the age gap was relatively small, and other conditions.

In most cases, termination of sex offender registration is discretionary-–in other words, the judge can refuse to terminate your registration requirements.

An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney is a Necessity

If Arizona or the federal government has charged you with a sex offense, you are in big trouble. Nevertheless, you are innocent until proven guilty. Preventing the prosecution from proving their clients guilty is exactly what a criminal defense lawyer does for a living. Call a lawyer today–your future is at stake.

Contact the Criminal Defense Lawyers at Orent Law Offices In Phoenix To Get Legal Assistance Today

For more information, contact the criminal defense attorney Craig Orent. Give us a call at (480) 656-7301 or visit our law office at 11811 N Tatum Blvd UNIT 3031, Phoenix, AZ 85028. We offer a free case evaluation, so get the help you deserve today.