sex offender registry

December 28, 2018

What is a Sex Offender Registry?

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

If you have been arrested after being charged with a sex crime, your life may never be the same. In society, the opinion of sex crimes, particularly those committed against children, is very strong and very negative. Law enforcement has a similar attitude when in pursuit of or apprehending someone accused of a sex crime. The majority of sex crime convictions result in the mandatory registration as a sex offender. Needless to say, the impact of that is serious and permanent.

An aggressive defense is needed if you hope to protect any semblance of your freedom, future, or reputation after being charged with a sex crime. A sex crime defense lawyer in Chicago will be able to help you construct a sound defense, which may include:

Demonstrating you were wrongfully accused: Is the accused making false allegations? Did they lie to protect their own reputation? Are you and the accused involved in a child custody case or going through a divorce?

December 9, 2016

Sex Offender Registration in Chicago: Public Protection v. Rehabilitation of Offenders

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Controversy has always surrounded the disclosure aspects of the sex offender registration program in Chicago. To some this is nothing more than a charter for vigilantes to attack those who have already served their time. To others 730 ILCS 152/115 represents a much needed public protection mechanism in an age in which sex offenders are getting more and more egregious in their crimes. In any case the law mandates that the State Police Department maintains a sex offender database which is readily accessible on the internet. Placement on the list is restricted to certain types of offenses. Crimes against children are high up on the agenda when it comes to the registration and disclosure process.

Confronting the Constitutional Implications of the Unpalatable

From one perspective, both 730 ILCS 150/2(B) and 730 ILCS 150/2(C) are tantamount to giving vigilantes a heads-up on which people and homes to attack. Sex offenders are already a vulnerable segment of convicted felons since they face being ostracized within and outside of prison. On the other hand, the public feels that they have a right to know about a category of offending that is highly susceptible to recidivism. The criteria for addition to the list is rather harsh on offenders and includes anyone who has been convicted of commission or attempted commission of a sex offense. Even those that are not guilty by reason of insanity are included. More controversially, the provisions for inclusion cover those who are subject to a finding that is not an acquittal at a hearing for an alleged commission or attempted commission of the offense.

November 4, 2015

What Happens if You Fail to Register as a Sex Offender in Illinois?

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Illinois is extremely hard on those convicted of sex crimes. In many cases, the law requires those convicted of sex crimes to register on the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, which is a public database. For any number of reasons, people fail to register or renew their registration, sometimes through no fault of their own. So, what happens if you do not register?

Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in Illinois

Failing to register as a sex offender in Illinois, or failing to renew your registration, means you can be charged with a Class 3 felony. If it is the second or subsequent time that you failed to register as a sex offender, or failed to renew your registration as a sex offender, then you can be charged with a Class 2 felony. This means that you will be required to spend a minimum of seven days in jail and pay a minimum fine of $500, although a Class 2 felony could carry a sentence of three to seven years.