Photo Of Kyle B. Sawyer
Photo Of Kyle B. Sawyer

Charged With A Crime? It Doesn’t Mean You’re Guilty.

Sex Offender Registration / DeRegistration, C.R.S. 18-3-412.5

On Behalf of | Sep 23, 2012 | Sex Offender Registration / DeRegistration |

We continue to hear from good people in Denver, Jefferson and Adams County who fail to DE-register as sex offenders, when they move.  They are trying to follow all the crazy rules for sex offenders in Colorado, but don’t realize you must tell the police agency where you have been registering, that you are leaving their jurisdiction and that you will be registering somewhere else (Sex Offender Registration / DeRegistration).  It is a crime in Colorado to forget: Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, C.R.S. 18-3-412.5.

The Colorado crime of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in Arapahoe, Douglas and Larimer County also includes the failure to provide notice of the address where a person intends to reside upon release from jail.  In effect, you can commit a new crime even before you leave the jail, if you fail to let the Sheriff know where you plan on living.  If you are homeless, you might as well stay in jail because you will be committing a crime if you don’t tell them your new address.

Sex Offender Registration / Deregistration Requirements like Failure to Register also occurs in Weld, Grand and Eagle County if you fail to register any former names (does this include a/k/a names?), fail to give them an email address, instant message identity, chat room identity, notice of change employment, enrollment in an institution of postsecondary education (i.e. college or any school beyond high-school), or fail to report any changes to this information within five business days.  We have seen students in good standing kicked out of college once they register themselves as students in compliance with the law.

Let’s be honest.  Colorado has made it easier to become a sex offender, tougher to be a sex offender and harder to discontinue being one.  The state is proud, in the name of “community safety”, that sex offenders can’t find jobs, can’t live in neighborhoods, and can’t have contact with their children.  But who is going to complain?  Sex offenders are horrible people, right?

We don’t think sex offenders are horrible people. We know that touching someone’s butt or breast when you are drunk, can classify you as a sex offender. There are a ton of other circumstances to qualify which are inappropriate behavior, but should not define a person as a threat to others.  Yes, we know that some sex offenders are dangerous.  But, this does not mean that all sex offenders are dangerous.  When you make someone register, you label them as dangerous and this label deprives them of jobs, housing and family contact.  We make people’s situation worse when we unnecessarily attach this label.  And, in Colorado, we unnecessarily attach this label to people all the time.

When you move to another city or state, it is essential that you de-register with the jurisdiction you are leaving.  You need a criminal lawyer experienced with sex offender registration just to advise you of all the requirements of sex offenders.  So, be smart, always exercise your right to remain silent when talking to the government, and call us at 303-731-0719.  Together, we can protect your future.