When convicted of specific sex crimes in Arizona, it is mandatory that you register as a sex offender. There are different sex offender levels associated with the registry, which will vary on your level of risk.
An Arizona agency will give you a sex offender assessment to determine the risk you pose. It will ask questions across 19 areas, and your score will determine your level.
If you face charges that require that you register on the sex offender registry, contact a sex crimes defense lawyer at Gurion Legal. Call them today at (480) 800-0020.
What are the Arizona Risk Levels for Sex Offenders?
When you register as a sex offender in Arizona, you will receive an assignment of one of three risk levels. See the list below to learn more.
- Level One: This risk level is for sex offenders with a low chance of reoffending.
- Level Two: This risk level is for those individuals with a moderate chance of reoffending.
- Level Three: This risk level is for those individuals with the highest chance of reoffending. They are likely threats to public safety in the communities where they live.
As mentioned, the risk level comes from the defendant’s score on the sex offender assessment. Each option comes with a specific length of time that you must be on the registry.
There are other factors that Arizona will consider when giving you a risk level. They will look at how long it took you to register as a sex offender. The state agency will look for any pending confirmation and actions you take.
Determining Sex Offender Levels of Risk
Remember, a state agency will conduct an assessment to determine your risk level. The goal is to see how likely you are to commit another sex crime in the future. They want to determine how much danger you are to your community.
The state will focus on the specific circumstances of your case. They will determine if a change is likely to occur while in jail. If you have multiple similar sex crime convictions on your record, your risk level may increase.
Do note that the state will rely solely on your circumstances and assessment. Someone else with the same conviction may have a higher or lower risk level than you.
Risk Level Requirements
Each of the risk levels comes with its requirements and restrictions. Read more about these circumstances in the information below.
Level One
At a level one risk, an individual should register as a sex offender with the local sheriff’s office. The legal personnel will keep the records. The sheriff will likely contact the individuals who live with the offender to inform them of the registration.
Level Two
An individual at level two has a moderate risk of reoffending. Again, a sex offender will need to register with their local sheriff’s office. The legal personnel will notify households in your family, schools in your community, your employer, and other groups of your registration.
Level Three
If you are a level three risk, the state deems you have a high chance of reoffending. You will start by registering with your local sheriff’s office.
After you register, the sheriff will contact schools and neighborhoods near your home.
After you register, the sheriff will contact schools and neighborhoods near your home. The legal personnel will hand out flyers that have your name, address, criminal record, and pictures on them. They will also contact your employer.
The sheriff will create a press release that will go out to your local newspaper and television stations. The general public will have public access to your address.
Arizona Sex Offender Registration Requirements
There are specific sex crimes that will require that you take the state assessment and register as an offender. If you do not comply with these requirements, you will face a new felony charge. Under ARS 13-3824, you will be guilty of a class 4 felony.
You have ten days from the date of your conviction to register with your local sheriff’s office under ARS 13-3821.
You have ten days from the date of your conviction to register with your local sheriff’s office under ARS 13-3821. If you move to a new home in the same county, you will need to provide the information within 72 hours under ARS 13-3822.
You will have to provide a written letter to the sheriff’s office if you move to a new county. You must register with the new locality as soon as the moving process is complete.
When you move out of Arizona, the sheriff will contact the county in the new state. They will check to ensure you registered within ten days of changing addresses.
What Sex Crimes Require People to Register as Sex Offenders in Arizona?
A sex crimes defense lawyer will help you understand that you do not need to register with the state unless you receive a conviction. You may want to prepare for if the judge finds you guilty.
You will find the charges that require offenders to go on the sex offender registry in ARS 13-3821. It includes the below convictions:
- ARS 13-1404: Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 18 Years of Age
- ARS 13-1405: Sexual Conduct with a Minor Under 18 Years of Age
- ARS 13-1406: Sexual Assault
- ARS 13-1410: Child Molestation
- ARS 13-1417: Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child
- ARS 13-3206: Taking a Child for the Purpose of Prostitution
- ARS 13-3212 (A)(1)(2): Child Prostitution, Child Sex Trafficking
- ARS 13-3212 (B)(1)(2): Child Prostitution Occurring Prior to August 9, 2017
- ARS 13-3553: Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Under 18 Years of Age
- ARS 13-3553: Luring of a Minor Under 18 Years of Age for Sexual Exploitation
- ARS 13-1402: Second Conviction of Indecent Exposure to a Minor Younger than 15 Years of Age
- ARS 13-1403 (B): Second Conviction of Sexual Indecency to a Minor Younger than 15 Years of Age
- ARS 13-1403: Third or Subsequent Conviction of Public Indecency
- ARS 13-3822 or ARS 13-3824: Violation of Sex Offender Registration Requirements
- ARS 13-3561: Unlawful Age Misrepresentation
- ARS 13-3560: Aggravated Luring of a Minor Under 18 Years of Age
- ARS 13-1428: Sexual Extortion of a Minor Younger than 15 Years of Age
- ARS 13-1303: Unlawful Imprisonment of a Person Younger than 18 Years of Age, not the Parent
- ARS 13-1304: Kidnapping of a Minor Under 18 Years of Age, not by the Parent
- ARS 13-118: sexually motivated offenses.
What are the Consequences of Being on the Sex Offender Registry?
If you are on the sex offender registry, there are consequences you will face. You will have to update your information every year and when you move. If you have a work trip in another county for greater than 10 days, you will have to register in the other locality.
In Arizona, sex offenders have to get a specific driver’s license. This has been a widely ongoing debate circling around First Amendment violations and privacy issues. When just looking at it, it will look like a standard identification. The difference occurs when police run your license.
When police put your license information into the database, they will see that you are a sex offender. You must renew this identification every year. If you miss the registration deadline, you will face a felony charge.
It can be much more difficult for sex offenders to find a place to live. Some rentals may not allow you to move in if they see you are on the state registry.
Registering as a sex offender also carries a hefty price. In Arizona, the initial fee is $250 as of the date of this article and can increase at any time. You will have to pay $100 every year for the specific driver’s license.
How Do You Get Relief from the State Registry?
If you talk with a sex crimes defense lawyer, you may be able to find relief from the registry. Juvenile sex offenders, for instance, must register if the judge finds them delinquent. Under ARS 3821 (D), the requirement will end when the individual turns 25.
Under ARS 13-3826, you may be eligible to petition for a removal from the registry if the victim was between the ages of 15 and 17 years old. You had to be younger than 22 at the time of the crime for this defense to work. You must be 35 years old at the time of the petition.
Under ARS 13-3826, you may be eligible to petition for a removal from the registry if the victim was between the ages of 15 and 17 years old.
The relationship had to be consensual. You also had to meet the requirements of your probation without violations. You have to have a record free from felonies and other sex crimes, and you should not have a violent past. Finally, you cannot seek relief if you served jail time for your crime.
Finally, you can seek relief from the sex offender registry if you were a juvenile charged as an adult. The court can end the requirement when you finish your probation terms. Not every judge will take this step.
Getting Help from an Arizona Sex Crimes Attorney
Contact a sex crimes defense attorney at Gurion Legal as soon as possible. Sex offender registry requirements come with harsh consequences. You must update your information every year and may face many financial and community stigmas.
It is crucial to get the help of a defense lawyer before you receive your conviction. They may help you avoid guilty sentencing so that you do not have to register.
If you already have your conviction, a sex crimes defense lawyer can still help. They can represent you in court to get relief from the requirements.
