November 30, 2022
Hagar & Phillips often represents those who have been charged with crimes that could require the individual to register as a sex offender if they are ultimately convicted. Like many other states, Tennessee requires those convicted of designated sexual offenses to register for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s (TBI) Sex Offender Registry.
In some cases, a conviction for a certain sexual offense requires mandatory registration on the sexual offender’s registry. Mandatory registration means that, regardless of the facts of the case or other circumstances, the individual who was convicted is absolutely required to register as a sex offender if they were convicted of an applicable crime.
The list of sexual offenses which result in mandatory registration is long and extensive. Typically, convicted individuals must register 10 years after the expiration of their sentence.
The sexual offenses for which a conviction carries a mandatory requirement of registration include:
Convictions for “violent sexual offenses” also require mandatory registration on the sexual offender registry. However, these convictions require individuals to remain on the sex offender registry for life, rather than for a certain period of time. Offenses that are considered violent sexual offenses include:
Convictions for a few sexual offenses do not require mandatory registration on the sexual offender registry. Instead, these convictions allow for the presiding judge to determine whether to order registration as part of sentencing. Offenses in this category include first-time convictions for statutory rape and misdemeanor unlawful photographing. In these cases, it is within the judge’s discretion to order registration, and in doing so, the judge will consider the facts and circumstances of the case, including the originally charged offense and whether the conviction was the result a of plea bargain agreement, to determine whether to require the individual convicted to register as a sex offender or not.
For more information about the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry, you can speak with the best attorneys in Lebanon, TN by contacting Hagar & Phillips for a confidential consultation at 615-784-4588.
Tennessee Sex Offender Registry, FAQ: Who is required to register on the Tennessee sex offender registry? https://sor.tbi.tn.gov/info
See T.C.A. 39-15-506(d)
See T.C.A. § 39-13-605
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