How Colorado’s Sex Offender Registry Affects Those Listed
Sex offender registration may be court ordered upon conviction of most sex crimes in Colorado. The same requirement applies to any person who was convicted of a sex crime in another state and later moved to Colorado. Failure to register within specified time limits can lead to additional criminal penalties. Under state law, a person required to register as a sex offender can petition the court for deregistration after a certain period of time has passed following completion of the sentence or probation.
How Does Sex Offender Registration Work?
Individuals convicted of most sex crimes in Colorado are required to register as sex offenders with local law enforcement agencies. The statewide sex offender registry is maintained by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Convicted sex offenders must register within five business days of either:
- Release into the community on probation, parole, or under community corrections
- Notice of the requirement to register, if not incarcerated but sentenced directly to community supervision
- Establishment of permanent, temporary, or secondary residence in Colorado
Thereafter, sex offenders must register annually on their birthdays and any time they move to a new residence. The requirement to register remains in effect until the court grants relief from this obligation. Sex offenders released from prison with no further supervision are required to register the next business day. Sex offenders subject to lifetime registration must re-register three months after release into the community and every three months thereafter. Failing to register or submitting false information on a registration form is punishable by prison or jail time, a fine, or both incarceration and a fine.
What Information Must Sex Offenders Provide When They Register?
When registering as sex offenders, individuals must complete a standardized CBI form, providing information that includes name, date of birth, address, place of employment, vehicle information, a full set of fingerprints, and a current photograph. If convicted of a child sex crime, offenders must provide all email addresses, instant messaging identities, and chat room identities before the offender uses them. In most cases, this information is posted by law enforcement and accessible to the public.
What Are the Consequences of Being on the Sex Offender Registry?
After a sex crime conviction, once you have served your sentence or completed your probation, sex offender registration can continue to have a negative impact on your life. It represents a social stigma that makes it difficult to find employment or housing and can damage your personal relationships and quality of life. Although Colorado laws do not limit where registered sex offenders can live, many towns and cities prohibit sex offenders from living within a short distance of parks, schools, and daycare centers.
A number of fees that may be associated with sex offender registration must be paid out of pocket, including a $1,000 to $2,000 fee for a mandatory psychosexual evaluation after conviction. The hidden costs of fees associated with sex offender registration can become overwhelming for a person who is having difficulty finding work after a conviction.
How Can a Lawyer Help Keep You Off the Sex Offender Registry?
If you have been charged with a sex crime, it is critical that you obtain legal counsel right away. Our skilled Breckenridge, Colorado criminal defense attorneys at Whitaker & Penix, LLC can analyze your situation and advise you on the best way to proceed. We can thoroughly examine the prosecution’s case against you and challenge every flaw for your best possible chance of avoiding a conviction and sex offender registration.
Our seasoned Summit County trial lawyers can put years of legal expertise at your disposal. Contact us at (970) 368-0602 if you are facing sex crime charges and the possibility of sex offender registration.