Removal from Michigan’s Sex Offender Registry
Note: Because of the volume, we cannot offer free consultations for people with sex offender registry questions. If you need our help, you must fill out the form at the bottom of this page and pay the non-refundable fee PRIOR to the firm working on your request.
Requirements for Early Removal from the Michigan Sex Offender Registry
On April 12, 2011, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed into law Public Acts 17, 18, and 19. These laws—which took effect on July 1, 2011—updated Michigan’s Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA). The sex offender registry in Michigan is list of people who have been convicted of state or federal sex crimes in Michigan. Being on this public list is not only embarrassing, but it can make it extremely hard to find employment, housing, financing, and more. Fortunately, the recent changes to SORA allow some people to be taken off the sex offender registry. Our highly-skilled sex crime attorneys can help with this process.
- Romeo and Juliet Offenders
A “Romeo and Juliet Relationship” involves consensual sexual conduct between a victim aged 13, 14, or 15 at the time of the offense and another person who is less than four years older. Though sexual conduct with someone aged 13-15 is still illegal, violators who do this in the context of a consensual “Romeo and Juliet Relationship” will not be placed on Michigan’s sex offender registry for certain sex crimes.-
- If you are in a “Romeo and Juliet Relationship” and prosecuted for sodomy, gross indecency, first degree or third degree CSC, or assault with intent to commit first or third degree CSC after the new law took effect on July 1, 2011, you will not be placed on Michigan’s sex offender registry unless the prosecutor objects to your allegation that your sex crime was part of your “Romeo and Juliet Relationship.” If the prosecutor objects, you must prove in a court hearing by a preponderance of the evidence that your sex crime was part of a “Romeo and Juliet Relationship,” and that therefore you should not be placed on the sex offender registry. Our team of sex crime lawyers can help you with this hearing process.
- If you are currently on the Michigan sex offender registry for sodomy, gross indecency, or any other sex crime that was prosecuted before or after July 1, 2011, and your sex crime was part of a “Romeo and Juliet Relationship,” you can immediately petition the court for removal from the sex offender registry. The court will hold a hearing to determine if you have met all of the qualifications for removal from the public sex offender registry. The sex crime attorneys at The Kronzek Firm can file this petition on your behalf and represent you at your hearing.
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- Certain Tier I Offenders
Since the new laws took effect on July 1, 2011, all sex crimes will now be classified as Tier I, Tier II, or Tier III, with Tier I containing the least serious sex crimes and Tier III being the most serious. The public sex offender registry will clearly state the category under which an offender’s sex crime falls.
Tier I crimes include: possession of child pornography; indecent exposure with self-fondling in front of a minor; unlawful imprisonment/restraint of a minor; fourth degree CSC against an adult; assault with intent to commit second degree CSC against an adult; surveillance of a minor; distribution of a recording or image of a minor who had a reasonable expectation of privacy; other similar violations of local, state, or federal law not in Tier II or Tier III; and any attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the above. Tier I offenders must register for 15 years, with verification occurring once each year from January 1st to January 15th.
Tier I offenders convicted of a single Tier I offense will not be placed on the public sex offender registry, but will remain on a private law enforcement registry. For offenses prosecuted after July 1, 2011, juvenile Tier I offenders aged 14 through 16 will not be placed on the registry. Other Tier I offenders can petition for removal from the sex offender registry if:
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- All of the following apply:
- ten or more years have passed since the later of the offender’s date of conviction for the Tier I sex crime and his or her release from confinement,
- the offender has not been convicted of any felony since the date determined in number 1 of this list,
- the offender has not been convicted of any sex crime since the date determined determined in number 1 of this list,
- the offender has successfully completed any assigned supervised release, probation, or parole,
- the offender has successfully completed a sex offender treatment program if that was a condition of his or her confinement, supervised release, probation, or parole, and
- the judge has reviewed the age and maturity of the offender and victim at the time of the Tier I offense, the nature and severity of the Tier I offense, and the offender’s prior criminal history, and has determined that the offender is not a continuing threat to the public.
The offender was convicted of (1) sodomy, (2) gross indecency, or (3) against a previously-incarcerated victim, second degree CSC, and the victim was 16 years old or older and not under the custodial authority of the offender at the time of the offense.
The offender was less than 14 years old at the time of the Tier I offense and was adjudicated as a juvenile.
The offender is on the public sex offender registry for an offense that required registration before July 1, 2011, but that does not require registration after that date.
Our experienced sex crime attorneys can help you with the petition process and the required court hearing!
Certain Tier II Offenders
Tier II crimes include: a subsequent Tier I crime committed by someone who has already been convicted of a Tier I crime; a first or second offense of accosting, enticing, or soliciting a child for an immoral purpose; enticing a minor to be involved with child sexually abusive material; distribution of child pornography; using a computer to get an adult to commit a sex crime; sodomy against a victim aged 13 up to 18; gross indecency against a victim aged 13 up to 18; solicitation; pandering; second degree CSC against an adult; second degree CSC against a victim aged 13 up to 18; fourth degree CSC against a victim aged 13 up to 18; assault with intent to commit second degree CSC against a victim aged 13 up to 18; other similar violations of local, state, or federal law; and any attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the above. Tier II offenders must register for 25 years, with verification occurring twice each year from January 1st to January 15th, and from July 1st to July 15th.
For offenses prosecuted after July 1, 2011, juvenile Tier II offenders aged 14 through 16 will not be placed on the registry. Other Tier II offenders can petition for removal from the public sex offender registry in Michigan if:
The offender was convicted of (1) sodomy, (2) gross indecency, or (3) against a previously-incarcerated victim, second degree CSC, and the victim was 16 years old or older and not under the custodial authority of the offender at the time of the offense.
The offender was less than 14 years old at the time of the Tier II offense and was adjudicated as a juvenile.
The offender is on the public sex offender registry for an offense that required registration before July 1, 2011, but that does not require registration after that date.
Our attorneys can help you with this process, as well as the required court hearing!
Certain Tier III Offenders
Tier III offenses are the most serious, and include: a subsequent Tier I or Tier II crime committed by someone who has already been convicted of a Tier I or Tier II crime; gross indecency against a victim under age 13; kidnapping against a minor; kidnapping a victim under age 14; first degree CSC; second degree CSC of a victim under age 13; third degree CSC; fourth degree CSC committed by defendant 17 or older against victim under age 13; assault with intent to commit first degree CSC or third degree CSC; assault with intent to commit second degree CSC against victim under age 13; other similar violations of local, state, or federal law; and any attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the above. Tier III offenders must register for life, with verification occurring four times per year, from January 1st to January 15th, April 1st to April 15th, July 1st to July 15th, and October 1st to October 15th.
For offenses prosecuted after July 1, 2011, juvenile aged Tier III offenders 14 through 16 will still be required to register for life, but will be placed on the private law enforcement registry and not on the public website. Other Tier III offenders can petition for removal from the public sex offender registry in Michigan if:
All of the following apply:
- the offender was a juvenile under the jurisdiction of the Family Court at the time of the offense and was required by the Family Court to register as a sex offender,
- twenty-five years or more have passed since the later of the offender’s date of conviction for the Tier III sex crime and his or her release from confinement,
- the offender has not been convicted of any felony since the date determined in number 2 of this list,
- the offender has not been convicted of any sex crime since the date determined in number 2 of this list,
- the offender has successfully completed any assigned supervised release, probation, or parole,
- the offender has successfully completed a sex offender treatment program if that was a condition of his or her confinement, supervised release, probation, or parole, and
- the judge has reviewed the age and maturity of the offender and victim at the time of the Tier III offense, the nature and severity of the Tier III offense, and the offender’s prior criminal history, and has determined that the offender is not a continuing threat to the public.
The offender was convicted of (1) sodomy, (2) gross indecency, or (3) against a previously-incarcerated victim, second degree CSC, and the victim was 16 years old or older and not under the custodial authority of the offender at the time of the offense.
The offender was less than 14 years old at the time of the Tier III offense and was adjudicated as a juvenile.
The offender is on the public sex offender registry for an offense that required registration before July 1, 2011, but that does not require registration after that date.
Our team of skilled sex crime lawyers can help you with your petition and court hearing!
As you can see, some of the requirements for removal from the sex offender registry are confusing and involve petitions and court hearings. There is nobody better-suited to help you with your removal than the aggressive, highly-skilled sex crime attorneys at The Kronzek Firm PLC. We understand how serious it is to be listed on the public sex offender registry in Michigan, and we will do all we can to get you off that list. We have been practicing sex crimes defense for over 80 combined years. During this time, we have earned a reputation amongst the legal community as experts in sex crime defense. Sometimes, there are people who were convicted of certain sex offenses who–for one reason or another–never had to register on the sex offender registry, or who were removed from the sex offender registry. If those people later plead guilty to or are found guilty of any felony (even non-sexual felonies!), they can be placed on the sex offender registry in Michigan.
What is the Cost?
We understand that money is tight, so our fees for sex offender registry removal are reasonable. Unlike other attorneys, we do not want to waste your money if you don’t qualify to get off the sex offender registry, so we do not collect full attorney’s fees up front. Instead, we have created a screening process where, for only $90, an attorney will review your case and consult with you about whether you are eligible to be removed from the registry. If you are interested in learning more, please download the screening process information form, fill out the form completely, obtain a money order or certified check for $90.00 made payable to The Kronzek Firm PLC, and mail the form and payment to:
The Kronzek Firm PLC
420 South Waverly Road, #100
Lansing, Michigan 48917
The $90.00 payment is non-refundable and allows us to spend the time and resources to review your record.
Once we receive your completed form and payment, you will hear from an attorney within 10 business days regarding your expungement request.
Please note: We do not take phone calls on this subject prior to a completed form and payment being received by our office. This $90.00 payment is required to complete the screening process.