If you were facing criminal charges for a sex-related offense, you might be concerned about registering as a sex offender. Being registered as a sex offender in Texas is serious and can impact your entire life, including where you work and live. Is it the case that once you are registered as a sex offender, you are always registered as a sex offender? We will discuss how long you have to stay on the Texas sex offender registry below.
How Long Does Sex Offender Status Last in Texas?
The length of time you will need to spend as a registered sex offender depends on the type of crime for which you were convicted. Under Texas criminal law, sex crimes are treated differently from other crimes. They are prosecuted more harshly. If you were an adult, aged 17 or older, you would be required to register as a sex offender for either 10 years or for life. The period starts after you have been discharged from state supervision, such as jail or community supervision. In other words, the clock for sex offender registration does not start until after your present sentence, supervision, or parole has ended.
Lifetime Sex Offender Registration
The most severe types of sex crimes require lifetime registration as a sex offender in Texas. These crimes include the following:
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Indecency with a child by contact
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Continuous sexual abuse of a child
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Aggravated sexual assault
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Promotion or possession of child pornography
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Indecency with a child by exposure
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Sexual assault
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Sexual performance by a child
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Trafficking of persons
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Prohibited sexual conduct
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Compelling prostitution of a minor and others
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