Proposed Bill Aims to Change Connecticut Sex Offender Registry System

 Posted on May 17,2019 in Sex Crime Charges

Sex crimes are some of the most serious crimes you can be charged with in the United States. If you are convicted of certain sexual offenses, you could be required to register as a sex offender in the state where you reside. Sex offender registries are available for the public to access, meaning anyone can see your information on the registry website, including your address and the offense you were convicted of. This can make it hard for those who have been convicted of a sex crime to find a job or a place to live, which is why the state of Connecticut is currently considering changes to the state sex offender registry.

Major Changes to Registry

There are a couple of major changes to the Connecticut sex offender registry that have been proposed in SB 1113. If the bill becomes law, a new sex offender registry board would be created. The board would determine the length of time a person will remain in the registry by examining each person’s risk of re-offending based on information provided by probation and parole officials. The goal would be to make decisions based on the person’s risk, rather than the actual offense they allegedly committed.

The bill would also create two different sex offender registries - one that is much like the current one and available to the public, and one that is only available to law enforcement. The public registry would contain information about high-risk offenders, while low-risk offenders would be placed in the private registry.

Currently, sex offenders are placed on the registry either for 10 years or for life. The proposed bill would create three different time periods that could be assigned to an offender - 10 years, 20 years, or for life. The bill would also only require low-risk offenders to verify their address once per year, rather than the current requirement of four times per year. High-risk offenders would still be required to verify their address four times per year.

Do Not Wait - Call a Connecticut Sex Crime Defense Lawyer Today

Being a convicted sex offender can affect your entire life. Currently in the state of Connecticut, if you are convicted of certain offenses, you could be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years or for life. If you have been charged with a sex crime, you need immediate representation from a skilled Hartford, CT criminal defense attorney. At the Woolf Law Firm, LLC, we can help you determine the best defense strategy and work to minimize the consequences you may face. Take the first step today and call us at 860-290-8690 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20190415_bill_to_modify_sex_offender_registry_advances/

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB01113&which_year=2019