31 Jul Which Crimes Require Registration as a Sexual Offender?
The sexual offender registry was established because of a series of bills that were passed by the Supreme Court between 1994 and 2003. These bills included the Jacob Wetterling Act, Megan’s Law, and the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. Although the sexual offender registry was intended to prevent future crimes, if someone is wrongfully accused, a conviction could ruin their life.
We go over which crimes require a person to register on Arizona’s sexual offender list, what the penalties are for failing to register, and why you need strong legal representation if you’re charged with a sexual offense.
Which Crimes Require Registration on Arizona’s Sexual Offender List?
Violent sexual crimes and even some types of attempted crimes require registration as a sexual offender. For example, a conviction for sexual assault (rape) could mean having to register. And convictions for any sexual crimes that involve minors—including distributing child pornography—will automatically make that person a sexual offender.
Crimes that require registration on Arizona’s sexual offender list include:
- Sexual Abuse
- Sexual Assault
- Sexual Conduct with a Minor
- Child Molestation
- Sexual Exploitation (Child Prostitution, Sex Trafficking)
- Sexual Extortion if the Victim is Under 15
- Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child
- Possession of Child Pornography
- Distribution of Child Pornography
- Creation of Child Pornography
- Luring a Minor
- Multiple convictions for Indecent Exposure
- Indecent Exposure to a Child Under the Age of 15
- Multiple convictions for Public Sexual Indecency
- Public Sexual Indecency Around a Child Under the Age of 15
- Unlawful Imprisonment and Kidnapping (if the victim is under 18)
Registration Is Mandatory, and Has Many Requirements
According to Arizona law, being registered as a sex offender is mandatory if you committed one of the above crimes. And if you fail to meet any of the registration requirements, you could be facing additional charges.
In Arizona, a convicted sex offender must:
- Register in person, within 10 days of the conviction
- Register with the sheriff of the county they reside in
- Prove that their current residence is within an accepted area
- Provide electronic fingerprints
- Provide any names or nicknames that they are known by
- Provide any electronic identifiers, like e-mail addresses or screen names
- Provide a current photograph
- Provide blood and DNA samples
- Pay the $250 registration fee
- If required, notify the public
- Renew their driver’s licence every year
What Are the Consequences of Failing to Register?
Failure to register or failure to maintain a sexual offender registration can have serious consequences.
For example, it’s an additional class 4 felony if you:
- Fail to register within 10 days
- Fail to update your address
- Fail notify the public if required by the court
- Fail to provide any of the required information
Prison terms for a class 4 felony can range from 1 to 15 years, with fines and fees sometimes reaching $150,000. It could also make you lose your eligibility for getting your name removed from the registry in the future.
Failure to renew your licence as a sexual offender is a class 6 felony. Depending on the details of the previous case, you could be facing fines and fees as well as incarceration.
- If your original conviction was not a felony, punishment can be probation or up to 2 years in prison.
- With prior convictions, prison sentences can range from 9 months to over 5 years in prison.
For Sexual Offender Charges, You Need a Certified Defense Attorney
If you have been charged with a crime that requires registration on Arizona’s sexual offender registry, don’t take the risk with a court-appointed lawyer. You need a certified defense attorney who will fight for your rights and make sure that you get a fair trial.
With over 25 years of experience, we know how to secure the best outcome possible for our clients. If you are looking for the best criminal defense team in Arizona, contact the Todd Coolidge Law Firm today.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (7/28/25). Photo by Scott Rodgerson on Unsplash.