Sex Offenders Near You? You Have a Legal Right to Know.
Oct. 8, 2014
Have you ever researched to find if sex offenders live in your immediate area? Did you know that you have a legal right to know where convicted sex offenders live? In the recent case of United States v. Juan José Santiago, a sex offender failed to register and as a result was sentenced to twelve months in prison and ten years supervised release. You can read more about the specific case here. Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, a sex offender must register and keep their registration current in all jurisdictions where they reside.
The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 set into place a national sex offender system, known as SORNA. More on the details of SORNA can be read on the Department of Justice's site here. Simply put, the purpose of having sex offender register is to assist with public safety. On the registry the name, location, and past offenses of a sex offender can be obtained. If an individual fails to register or update their registry, it is a federal crime. The National Sex Offender Public Website can be accessed here.
If you are in need of assistance with sex offender related legal issues, or have questions about the sex offender registry, contact Wolfe Law Office for a free consultation at 304-245-9097.
Sources:
The United States Department of Justice- Child Exploitation and Obscenity section
The US Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website
DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.