Sex Crimes, failure to comply with registration requirements

by | Dec 21, 2016 | Sex Crimes

 In Pennsylvania, if you commit certain sex crimes you are required to register to Megan’s Law. If you don’t register, then you can be charged with Sex Crimes such as failure to comply with registration requirements.  The purpose of Megan’s Law is to inform the Sexual abuse of children public of sexual offenders that may pose as a risk in order to keep the public safe. If you are convicted of certain sex crimes, you may be required to register with Megan’s Law from the time sentencing occurs. If you fail to register to Megan’s Law, you are committing a crime. This offense is known as failure to comply with registration requirements. An individual who is subject to registration commits an offense if he knowingly fails to register with the Pennsylvania State Police as required; verify his address or be photographed as required; or provide accurate information when registering. An individual who is a transient (impermanent registrar) commits an offense if he knowingly fails to register with the PA State Police as required; verify the information provided or be photographed as required; or provide accurate information when registering. An individual who is designated as a sexually violent predator or sexually violent delinquent child commits an offense if he knowingly fails to comply with the duration of outpatient commitment and review or fail to comply with counseling of sexually violent predators.

The grading of your offense depends on the amount of years you are required to register. If you are a sexual offender who must register for 15 years and you fail to register with the PA State Police, fail to verify your address or fail to be photographed, you are committing a felony of the third degree. If you have previously been convicted of these violations and commit the violations again, you are committing a felony of the second degree. Child Pornography If you fail to provide accurate information when registering with the PA State Police, you are committing a felony of the second degree. If you are required to register for a longer period of time, you may face harsher penalties.

The grading for sexual offenders who must register for 25 years or life is much stricter than for those who must register for less time. If you are a sexual offender who must register for 25 years or life and you fail to register with the PA State Police, fail to verify your address or fail to be photographed, you are committing a felony of the second degree. If you have previously been convicted of a violation and commit a violation again, you are committing a felony of the first degree. If you fail to register with the Pennsylvania State Police for 25 years or life, you are committing a felony of the first degree. If you are considered a transient, the penalties differ from these penalties.

If you are a sexual offender who is a transient and must register for 15 years and you fail to register with the Pennsylvania State Police as required or fail to verify the information provided or be photographed as required, you are committing a felony of the third degree. If you are a transient and must register for 25 years or life, the penalty is increased to a second-degree felony. If you provide inaccurate information when registering, you are committing a felony of the second degree. If you are a transient sexual offender who must register for 25 years or life, the grading of the offense increases to a first-degree felony. If you are a sexual offender who is a transient and must register for 15 years and you have previously been charged with any of these violations, you are committing a felony of the second degree. If you are a sexual offender who is a transient and must register for 25 years and you have previously been charged with any of these violations, you are committing a felony of the first degree.

​If you or someone you know is facing failure to comply with registration requirements, it is important to contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Your rights are important and a criminal defense attorney will be able to ensure that your rights are protected.

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