Sex Registry Status | O'Keeffe O'Brien Lyson Attorneys

Can You Get Off the Sex Offender Registry?

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Sex offender registry began in North Dakota in 1991, and legislators have routinely updated the related statutes since then. Generally speaking, if you are convicted of or plead guilty to certain sex-related crimes, the law will require you to register as a sex offender with the state. You will need to regularly verify or update your information – such as where you live and work – for a certain period of time, depending on the circumstances of your case.

When you are a registered sex offender, information about you, your offenses, your address and employment, and more will be available to the public. All it will take is a quick online search, and someone can learn that you were convicted of a sex crime. Needless to say, this can impact your life in many ways – personally and professionally – and most people wonder if there is any way to escape the consequences of sex offender registration. Our legal team regularly hears the question of whether someone can get off the sex offender registry early. 

How Long Will You Have to Register?

When you are deemed a sex offender following a conviction, the Sex Offender Risk Assessment Committee – made up of several criminal justice agencies – will assess your level of risk to the community. Your risk level will determine how long you need to register as a sex offender, as follows:

  • Low risk = 15 years of registration
  • Moderate risk = 25 years of registration
  • High risk = Registration for life

There are risk assessment guidelines used to determine an offender’s risk and how long they might have to register. 

Requesting a Reassessment

Once your risk level is assessed, and you remain free from additional trouble with the law, you can have the opportunity to request a review and reconsideration of your sex offender risk level. You can submit this request after two years from the initial assessment, and every two years following. 

You should submit information supporting a lower risk level, and you should have an experienced sex crimes defense attorney help you prepare your request. The right lawyer can represent you at your hearing and provide persuasive arguments that your risk level and your length of time on the registry should be reduced. 

Consult with a Fargo Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer Today

While a risk level reassessment might not get your information immediately removed from the registry, it can shorten the time that sex offender registration might impact your life. Contact our experienced criminal defense attorney, Tatum O’Brien, by email, or call O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys at 701-235-8000 or toll-free 877-235-8002 to discuss your options.