What Do Sex Offenders Have to Report?

What Do Sex Offenders Have to Report?

Once your loved one registers with a state as a sexual offender, his or her name, photo and other information will be listed on the state sex offender registry.  In addition, your loved one will be required to follow strict guidelines of behavior thereafter. While each state designs its own rules for the registry, there are some basic things that typically must be reported to probation or parole officers.

Change in residence: In some states, your loved one is required to get permission before moving to a new residence. In others, a move has to be reported within a short period of time, such as 24 to 48 hours after the move. This is so the authorities can check the residence in relation to its distance from any schools, day-care centers or other restricted locations your loved one may have in place. 

New job: Your loved one will need to report the start of a new job or a change in jobs. There may be additional rules about what type of job your loved one can work, or is prohibited from working. The probation or parole office will want to know anytime the job changes to be sure that none of those rules are being broken.

All vehicles: Some states, including Tennessee, require sex offenders to register with authorities any vehicle that he or she may be driving now or in the future. This includes both vehicles that your loved owns and any vehicles that are borrowed for any reason. For example, if your loved one's neighbor lends your loved one a car, even if its just to run to the store and back, that car's VIN number and license plate must be registered with the authorities before your loved one gets behind the wheel.

Internet Access: If your loved one is allowed to maintain an email address, Internet access or chat names, all such information must be provided to the probation or parole officer. If any information changes, such as a new email address, or a new chat user name, it must be reported within a specified time frame. Many sexual offenders are told they cannot have any Internet access or email addresses.

Someone moves in: Your loved one most likely has to report any new residents in the home. Sexual offenders whose crimes were against children are typically ordered not to live with or have contact with anyone under 18. Some judges make exceptions for the offender's biological children, if they were not the victims. Most sexual offenders, regardless of their victims' ages, must report any new person moving into the home.