What Happens if I Fail to Register as a Sex Offender in Maryland?

 Posted on October 24, 2024 in Sex Crimes

Sex crimes in Maryland can carry severe penalties including lengthy prison time and hefty fines. In addition, a person who is convicted of a sex crime must register as a sex offender. This makes his or her offense publicly available information and can affect the offender’s ability to find employment or living accommodations.

This article will discuss how the sex offender registry works, who must register, and what happens if you fail to register as a sex offender in Maryland. Make sure to contact a Maryland criminal defense attorney for more details or any questions about your specific circumstances.

What Is the Sex Offender Registry in Maryland?

The sex offender registry is a database that contains information about people who have been convicted of sex crimes. It is available to the public so that anyone can access information about a sex offender, referred to as a registration statement. A registration statement contains the offender’s:

• Name
• Age
• Address
• Photo
• School or place of work
• Vehicle model, color, and license plate number
• Crime
• Aliases
• Jurisdiction
• Conviction dates
• Term of registration

The registration statement will contain both a legal description of the crime and an explanation in plain language.

How Does Sex Offender Registration Work in Maryland?

Anyone convicted of a sex crime must register as a sex offender, regardless of the sentence. If the defendant was given prison time, he or she must register as an offender before being released. If the defendant was given a form of probation called community supervision, he or she has three days to register. The process begins with the offender reporting to a local law enforcement unit that records his or her information and enters it on the sex offender registry.

The offender must report in person to law enforcement every three or six months, depending on the "tier" of the offense. In Maryland, sex crimes are divided into three tiers:

• Tier I: This is the lowest tier of sex crimes and applies to offenses like possession of child pornography, voyeurism, sex trafficking, traveling with intent to engage in illicit conduct, and sharing information about a minor to further criminal sexual conduct.
• Tier II: This tier is for more weighty sex crimes like third-degree sex offenses, sexual solicitation of a child, distribution of child pornography, running a brothel, and others.
• Tier III: This tier is reserved for the most serious sex crimes. It includes offenses like first-degree rape and other sexual offenses, forcible sodomy, incest, sex offenses against a disabled person, assault with intent to rape or sexually abuse, murder with intent to rape or sexually offend a minor, and others.

Sex offenders in the Tier I and Tier II categories must register in person with law enforcement every six months. Tier I registrants remain on the registry for 15 years, Tier II registrants for 25 years, and Tier III offenders for life.

What Happens if I Fail to Register as a Sex Offender?

A sex offender who knowingly fails to register with law enforcement is guilty of a misdemeanor and faces a fine of up to $5,000 and up to three years in prison. This also applies to a registrant who knowingly fails to update law enforcement about a change of address, school, or employment.

Contact a Harford County, MD Sex Crime Defense Attorney

Sex crimes are punished harshly in Maryland, which is why it is important to hire a Northern Baltimore County, MD sex crime defense lawyer who will defend your rights and your future. At Baltimore Legal Services, we have defended over 10,000 clients with personalized legal strategies, and we are ready to do the same for you. Our attorneys are available 24/7 and offer custom flat fees. Schedule a free consultation by calling 858-523-8423 today.