For the most part, if you’re convicted of any sort of sex crime in this country, you’ll be ordered to register as a sex offender. It doesn’t matter if you’re actually convicted or if you plead guilty. The same is true in Boise, Idaho. If you’re charged and convicted with a sex crime, such as rape or child pornography, you’ll be required to register as a sex offender.
These sex offender registries are maintained by the state in order to let other people know that you are a potential danger to society. Not only can potential employers see this list, but so can the public at large. For example, you can go online and look for the sex registry in a certain state. You can even look at maps of cities, towns and counties to see where the registered sex offenders are. Depending on the way the state maintains their list, you may be able to get very detailed information about the offender and their criminal history.
If you’ve been charged or convicted of any serious sex crime in Boise, you should call and talk to an experienced criminal defense lawyer right away. If you are ordered to register as a sex offender, it can impact the rest of your life. The one thing standing between a conviction and an acquittal may be a skilled Boise criminal defense attorney.
Juveniles Have Their Own Sex Offender Registry List in Boise, Idaho
A lot of people ask whether minors are required to register as sex offenders in Boise. The law is rather clear on this. If a juvenile was charged and convicted as an adult, they will automatically be required to register as a sex offender. Their information will appear on the regular sex offender registry provided by the state. However, there is also a juvenile sex offender registry maintained by the state of Idaho that the general public does not have access to.
The juvenile registry is a sub-section of the general sex offender registry. It includes the following information about the offender:
- Fingerprints
- Photographs
- Information about compliance and duty to register
Not all juvenile sex offense cases require registration on the Juvenile registry. For answers on the juvenile registry please feel free to reach out as the answer to this is somewhat cumbersome.
Does the Public Have Access to the General Sex Offender Registry in Idaho?
Members of the general public can go online and either view or search the sex offender registry in Idaho. On the main page of the site, there is the option to search for violent sex offenders as well as sex offenders who are not in compliance with the sex registry rules. There is a lot of detailed information available on this site, including the following:
- Recent picture of the offender
- Height, Weight, Eye Color and Hair descriptions
- Date of Birth
- Place of Birth
- Primary home address
- The crimes of which they were convicted
- Whether they are compliant or not
You can also search for offenders based on other things. You can search by name if you want to. Or, you can put your zip code in, and the site will provide you with a map showing all registered offenders.
Why Does Idaho Require People to Register as a Sexual Offender?
The Idaho legislature initially passed the law requiring a sex registry list back in July of 1993. They updated the law to include the separate juvenile database in 1998. They have made it clear that the public has a right to this information. They also want to use the registry to help law enforcement conduct their investigations.
The main reasons for the sex offender registry include the following:
- Protect the community
- Allow parents to protect their children
- Help law enforcement quickly apprehend suspect
- Reduce the risk of reoffending
Of course, as with any other law, the goal is to dissuade people from committing these types of offenses in the first place. If someone knows that they could be forced to register as a sex offender, they may be less likely to commit a sexual assault. Boise criminal defense lawyers understand how much of an impact being on this registry can be for their client. That is why they’ll do their best to get your charges reduced or dismissed in the first place.
If you have been charged with a sexual crime in Idaho, call our office right away. You need the help of an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Boise sooner rather than later.