Sex Offender Deregistration
If you have to register as a sex offender, you probably have dealt with hardships like job insecurity, community ostracization, housing difficulties, and harassment of yourself and your family. There is good news: you might be eligible for deregistration! The Law Office of Scott Smith can assess your eligibility and work with you to successfully navigate the complex deregistration process.
If you were convicted of any offense involving a “sex crime”, you probably have to register as a sex offender in Texas. You may have to register even if you had consensual sex or your offense did not involve sexual contact with someone else. No matter what the charge was, registering has probably had negative consequences for you. For example, you may have been fired or faced chronic unemployment. You may have had trouble finding housing or even been harassed or threatened. Even if you have completed years of court-ordered counseling and professionals say you won’t re-offend, you still can’t automatically stop registering. Until recently, sex offender deregistration was not possible for anyone. Fortunately, the law has changed, so you could be eligible to deregister.
Sex offender deregistration can be a long and difficult process, but it is worth it for many people. Scott C. Smith is one of few attorneys in Texas who has significant experience guiding people through deregistration. Because the process is hard and the stakes are high, you need an attorney who knows what he is doing and can fight for you effectively. If you are interested in deregistration, contact the Law Office of Scott C. Smith.
The Texas Sex Offender Deregistration Process
You have to go through several steps in order to be approved to stop registering as a sex offender. First, you have to figure out if you are eligible. Then, you have to apply for a risk evaluation by a professional. Next, you need to go to a specialist for the evaluation. After that, you have to file a petition for deregistration. Finally, after a hearing, the judge determines whether you can stop registering or not. For more information on each step, keep reading!
Step One – Figure Out If You Are Eligible
The first step to deregistration is making sure that you meet the basic legal requirements. To start, you can only have one offense that requires registration. Additionally, the Texas Department of Public Safety must list say people convicted of that offense can deregister (see the DPS Tiered Offense Chart) . Finally, the particular facts of your case can sometimes affect your eligibility. For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions – “How can I know if I am eligible to deregister as a sex offender in Texas?”
Step Two – Apply for a Deregistration Evaluation
If you meet the requirements in the first step, you can move forward in the process! The next step is applying for a deregistration evaluation. We’ll send a request for evaluation to the Texas Council on Sex Offender Treatment. In addition to the request, we’ll include documentation from your case, background checks, and proof that you successfully completed sex offender treatment. CSOT will then decide whether to approve you for an evaluation or not. For more information, see CSOT’s sex offender eligibility checklist.
Step Three – Get Evaluated by a Specialist
If CSOT approves your application, the next step is to meet with a licensed sex offender deregistration specialist. In the meeting, the specialist will use several different tools to measure how likely it is that you will re-offend. After that, they will put together a report with their findings. As long as the specialist says you are unlikely to re-offend, you can start on the next step.
Step Four – Submit a Petition for Deregistration
Once the specialist says you are unlikely to re-offend, the final step is to ask the court in which you were sentenced if you can stop registering. To best make your case, we will help you prepare a formal petition with supportive documents. With the right information and good representation, you have the best chance to make the hearing a success. The final part of the process may be one of the most difficult because each judge is different and has lots of discretion in deciding whether to allow you to stop registering.
Not only can this process be intimidating. but it also requires specialized knowledge. Fortunately, Mr. Smith has years of professional experience with the ins and outs of the deregistration process. Going through the deregistration process takes time, but is worth it for many of our clients. Contact the Law Office of Scott C. Smith if you are interested in a consultation.
The Law Office of Scott C. Smith represents individuals who hope to deregister as sex offenders under Texas law. We also assist attorneys throughout the state of Texas who want to work with co-counsel located in the capital and familiar with the Texas CSOT’s rules and the process of deregistration. If you are interested in the sex offender deregistration procedure, contact us at 512-474-6484.
For more information about the topic of Sex Offender Deregistration visit the Blog at Sex-Offender-Deregistration.com