Who must register as a sex offender in Louisiana?
People who have been charged with a sex crime in Louisiana should know what the requirements are for the state’s sex offender registry.
In April of this year, a man filed a lawsuit against various Louisiana officials, citing the unconstitutionality of the state’s sex offender registry. According to Nola.com, the man was convicted in another state of transmitting obscene material to a minor. Louisiana law mandates him to register as a sex offender for as long as the state requires, whether it be Louisiana or the state in which he was convicted – whichever is longer.
The case highlights the importance of anyone in Louisiana accused of a sex crime to understand what the state’s requirements are for the sex offender registry. Failing to comply with the law could result in additional criminal repercussions.
What the law says
According to state law, any adult who has either been convicted of, pled guilty to or received a deferred or withheld adjudication for certain sex crimes must register as an offender with the state. Those crimes include the following:
- Rape and aggravated rape
- Sexual battery
- Aggravated kidnapping of a child
- Molestation
- Child trafficking
- Unlawful deepfakes
- Child sexual abuse materials
- Human trafficking
- Unlawful exposure by an inmate
Further, any juvenile who has either been convicted of or pled guilty to second-degree kidnapping or certain sex offenses, except simple or third-degree rape, would have to register. A juvenile who was at least 14 years old at the time they committed certain sexual misconduct, such as rape or aggravated kidnapping of someone younger than 13, would also have to enter the sex offender registry. These guidelines apply to people whose crimes were committed in Louisiana as well as those in other states.
Strict deadlines to register
You must register within three business days of establishing residence in a parish or of being released from incarceration. If you move to a new home, switch jobs or change your name, you must notify law enforcement within three business days of the change.
During your registration, expect to provide these details:
- Full legal name and any aliases
- Current photograph and fingerprints
- Email addresses, online screen names and social media handles
- Employment or school addresses, even if these are in a different parish
- Details regarding every motorized vehicle you operate
- Physical description and DNA samples
It is important not to forget to notify the community. The law requires you to send letters to your neighbors within a certain radius of your home or publish a notice in the local newspaper that contains your name, address and crime. You must also notify the superintendent of schools in your parish.
Louisiana takes registration seriously. Failing to register counts as a separate felony. For a first offense, you can face two to 10 years at hard labor without the possibility of parole, probation or suspension of sentence. A subsequent offense can trigger harsher penalties, which often result in up to 20 years in prison.
Length of registration
The length of time your name must remain on the registry depends on the tier of your offense, which is as follows:
- 15 years: Includes standard offenses not involving minors or aggravated circumstances and requires annual in-person renewal
- 25 years: Includes offenses against a minor and requires biannual in-person renewal
- Lifetime: Includes aggravated offenses or repeat convictions and requires in-person registration renewal every 90 days
Renewal refers to the in-person verification of your information. The process ensures that the state’s sex offender registry remains accurate, as you may change phone numbers or jobs over time.
Missing a renewal can signal to law enforcement that you may have absconded or attempted to hide. Additionally, the period of staying on the registry may restart.
Where to register
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections reports that an offender will need to register with the parish of residency’s sheriff’s office. In cases in which the person’s address falls into an incorporated area that has a police department, or the population of the area is more than 450,000, the person will need to register with the police.
Further, if the person works or goes to school in a parish separate from the one in which he or she lives, he or she must register with either the sheriff’s office or police department there.
Louisiana law states that failing to register as a sex offender could result in a fine of up to $1,000 as well as a two- to 10-year prison sentence with hard labor. For subsequent offenses of failing to register, the prison sentence extends to as much as 20 years.
Anyone facing sex crime charges should consult with an attorney.
