Understanding the Sex Offender Registry Laws in Illinois

 Posted on February 05, 2019 in Sex Crimes

Being convicted of a sex offense in Illinois carries with it several consequences. A person may be sentenced to jail time, high fines, and will most certainly be required to register as a sex offender. The laws pertaining to sex offender registration in Illinois are complicated. They are also very harsh. In fact, a person may be required to register as a sex offender even when they do not have any convictions for a sexual offense. Due to the complexity of these laws, there are many misunderstandings surrounding them.

The information below will explain the most important aspects of the sex offender registration laws within the state. While this information is comprehensive, anyone accused of a sex offense should still contact an attorney that can review their case in more detail.

Crimes Requiring a Person to Register as a Sex Offender

The full list of crimes that require someone to register as a sex offender are fully outlined in the Sex Offender Registration Act. These crimes include everything from child pornography to criminal sexual abuse and more. However, other criminal convictions can also result in a person being required to register as a sex offender. For example, if a person is convicted of murder in the first degree, upon their release from prison, they are also required to register on the sex offender registry.

Other individuals that may be required to register as a sex offender include:

• Anyone not convicted of a sex offense because they used the defense of insanity;
• Anyone tried for a sex offense and not acquitted;
• Any offense committed by a juvenile that would require; registration if the juvenile was an adult; and
• Any person determined to be a sexual predator.

Length of Time Required to be Registered

After being convicted of a sex offense, a person must register every year for ten years. Any time a person moves into a new municipality, they must register again within three days of the move, or within one year of their last registration. This timeframe begins either after a person is released from prison, or immediately after receiving a sentence of probation.

Failing to register with the registry is also a crime. When a person commits this crime, that annual timeframe changes to once every three months. This timeframe will remain for the rest of the registration period. In addition, once a person fails to register, another ten years may be added to the time they are required to be registered.

The annual timeframe is also reduced in the case of someone that has been convicted of murder in the first degree, or that has been deemed a sexual predator by the courts. In these cases, a person must re-register every three months for the rest of their life.

Process of Registering on the Sex Offender Registry

Anyone required to register on the sex offender registry can do so with the Rolling Meadows Police Department, or the police department in the municipality in which they live. In order to properly register, they must bring:

• A current picture of themselves;
• Current address, place of employment, and all phone numbers, including the phone number of any employers;
• License plate numbers of any vehicles they drive;
• Names of any school they have attended;
• Any and all identities used online, including Twitter handles and profiles on social media networks;
• Any URLs they use;
• The address of any website or blogs they own;
• Previous extensions given to the accused to register as a sex offender, including the date and circumstances surrounding that extension;
• Copy of their parole or prison release, including the terms and conditions associated with it;
• All information pertaining to the offense for which registration is required; and
• Any permanent and unique marks, such as tattoos or birthmarks, on their body.

Restrictions for Those on the Sex Offender Registry

Once a person is registered on the sex offender registry, they will have several restrictions placed on them. They cannot be within 500 feet of school property, they cannot be in a public park, and anyone convicted of a sex offense after 2010 cannot use any social media sites while on probation, parole, or mandatory supervised release.

When certain conditions are met, those with children in a school may be on school property. Those on the sex offender registry also have no restrictions placed on them in regards to living with children. They must, however, report to the police if they are living with a child that is under 18 years of age and that is not their own child.

Rolling Meadows Sex Crime Lawyer Can Help Individuals Avoid the Registry

Appearing on the state’s sex offender registry can have severe consequences. Not only are there many requirements and restrictions, it can also greatly damage a person’s reputation and their ability to gain employment, housing, or an education. The best way to avoid being placed on the sex offender registry is to not be convicted of a sex offense, or any other offense that may require registration. A skilled Rolling Meadows criminal defense attorney can help those accused beat these charges, so they do not suffer the consequences of the sex offender registry and more. If you have been convicted of a sex offense or any other crime, contact the Law Offices of Christopher M. Cosley at 847-253-3100. We will help build a solid defense for anyone charged with a crime in order to get the charges dropped or reduced. Call us today for your free consultation.

Source:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?docname=072000050hart.+11&actid=1876&chapterid=53&seqstart=14300000&seqend=20800000