Florida Sex Offender Registry Removal
Sex crimes are considered one of the most serious crimes in Florida, with varying degrees of punishment, including registry as a sex offender.
Twenty-three separate Florida statutes define qualifying sexual offenses that necessitate registration. These offenses range from sexual battery to video voyeurism, and include both violent and nonviolent sexually-related offenses. Several offenses committed by minors aged 14 and up also necessitate registration.
Registration is a one-time requirement with few options for removal. If you are charged with one of these offenses, you will need expert help from a criminal defense attorney in Tampa who is both knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to Florida sex offenses and can provide a strong, effective defense. The Rickman Law Firm can help you in the event that you have been added to the sex offender registry.
What Does it Mean to be Registered as a Sex Offender in Florida?
Once you are registered as a sex offender, your name, address, and picture are searchable and viewable by the public on the state’s sex offender registry. The registry allows users to print individual flyers and track a person’s whereabouts if they move close to any address the user has chosen to monitor.
You must report to your local sheriff’s office as a registered sex offender and provide them with your name, address, and other identifying information, such as your social security number, fingerprints, picture, place of employment, vehicle information, home and cell phone numbers, and all email addresses.
You must continue to report this information two to four times a year for the rest of your life, depending on the offense. If you relocate or change your name, you must also update your driver’s license or identification card within 48 hours of the change.
Registration is required for life. Sex offenders are even kept on the Florida public registry for a year after death before being removed.
Similarly, people who relocate to Florida and have previously registered in another state must register in Florida as well, even if they are only here temporarily for school or work. Even if you are only passing through, your name will be added to the public registry and will never be removed.
Registered sex offenders convicted after October 1, 2004 and whose victims were under the age of 16 are prohibited from living within 1,000 feet of a school, park, playground, or daycare center, according to Florida Statutes, 775.215. Furthermore, different counties and municipalities within the state may have their own requirements that exceed 1,000 feet.
How to Secure Sexual Offender Registration Removal in Florida
There are a few possible avenues to explore if you want to remove yourself from the Florida sex offender registry. These include:
Getting Your Conviction Overturned
One possibility is to have your conviction overturned. This will necessitate the services of an experienced appeals attorney to guide you through the filing process and represent you if your case is retried. The prosecutor may choose not to litigate, allowing your conviction to be overturned.
Waiting for 25 Years
Individuals on the sex offender registry in Florida can apply for removal after 25 years from the completion of their sentence. A sentence’s length includes more than just your jail time. If you are on probation or parole, the 25-year rule begins when those requirements are completed.
You must meet a few requirements, including:
- Not being arrested for any felony or misdemeanor since your release
- Not being a sexual predator; only sex offenders can be pardoned
- Not committing a more serious crime such as sexual battery (rape), false imprisonment, or kidnapping
Romeo and Juliet Law
In certain cases involving youth sex offenses, you may be able to have your name removed from the registry if the following conditions are met:
- The victim was between the ages of 13 and 17
- You were less than five years older than the victim
- You have no other prior convictions
- Your crime did not violate federal law and was consensual with the victim
Understand that even if you meet all of these criteria, your chances of successfully petitioning your case are very slim unless you have strong criminal defense law attorneys in Tampa on your side. You are not permitted to file under the Romeo and Juliet Law a second time.
Receive a Full Pardon
While a pardon from Florida’s governor would remove you from the sex offender registry, the chances of this happening are very slim unless you have hired a competent criminal defense law firm in Tampa to help. Beware that backlogs for several years are common.
Trust a Knowledgeable Tampa Criminal Defense Law Firm to Review Your Options
Removing your name from the Florida Sex Offender Registry is far from simple. The laws are complicated, and your chances of success are slim, particularly if you do not have highly qualified criminal defense law attorneys in Tampa guiding you through the process.
We at The Rickman Law Firm can help you stop worrying about the unfortunate scenario and encourage you to keep your pride, get the help you need, and move on with your life. And, we also acknowledge that people often need help finding a second chance.
Contact us today for a no-obligation, confidential, and unbiased consultation.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.