Kansas sex offender laws include complex registration requirements for most sex crime convictions. These requirements are very serious, and if not followed to the letter, often result in re-incarceration.
There are many problems and legal issues with sex offender registries, not the least of which are the inconsistencies among states, the confusing language of the requirements themselves, and the continual changing of the rules for the sex offender registry in Kansas.
The registry is controlled by the Federal Bureau of Investigations for all states and territories in the U.S. It is only accessible by law enforcement. However, one federal requirement is that each state make available a public database for those sex offenders it determines must register.
These public databases are searchable and freely available to anyone with Internet access. They can also be put on a commercial website, such as a realtor’s property search site. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) operates the public database for Kansas.
Kansas sex offender registration currently requires the paroled offender to maintain contact with local law enforcement, usually the sheriff’s office in the county in which you live, every 4 months. You may be required to register in other counties as well, such as where you work and or frequently visit.
On your scheduled dates, you must report in, pay a fee, and update your personal information. Reporting includes verifying/updating any changes in your physical address, your email address, your vehicle information, where you work, and more.
Kansas sex offenders must do this every 4 months for 15 years, 25 years, or life, depending on the sex crime conviction, and the criminal history of the convict.
Charges for Failure to Register As A Sex Offender
Failing to register is a crime in and of itself. Kansas sex offender laws make the failure to register a severity level 5 person felony. In addition, a new violation will be recorded every 30 days for as long as the offender remains non-compliant.
Non-compliance means violating any of the articulated requirements of Kansas sex offender registration law, including non-payment of fees, failure to report, and failure to update personal information.
Remaining non-compliant with the sex offender registration laws turns into Aggravated Violation, a new and separate felony offense which usually results in prosecution.
What You Can Do
Living a simplified lifestyle upon release, such as working where you live, maintaining minimum communications (one email, one phone, etc.) and not attempting any travels, can help minimize risk of a violation.
Kansas sex offenders would do well to establish the best working relationship possible with their reporting authorities.
It is tough to stay abreast of all current requirements in the registration laws, and you should continually ask if there have been changes made to your reporting requirements.
The Law for sex offender registration is an enormous hardship and burden that many in the legal defense community see as unduly burdensome and unfair to almost all Kansas sex offenders.
If you have questions about the Kansas Offender Registration Act and possible violations, please contact Attorney John DeMarco here at Norton Hare.