Many people, when they check out the Michigan Sex Offender Registry for the first time, wonder why some people are on it for life, and others are only registered for a few years. It may seem unfair, but there’s actually a reason. Curious? Let’s break it down…
In 2006 federal sex crime laws changed.
President George W. Bush signed the Adam Walsh Act into law in 2006, which changed the way law enforcement classifies sexual offenses. Under this new law, the federal government started classifying sex crimes based on several factors:
- The crime committed,
- The nature of the crime,
- The age of the people involved, and
- Whether or not the convicted sex offender is likely to do the same thing again.
Michigan categorizes all sex crimes into ‘tiers’:
After the feds changed the way sex crimes got classified, they encouraged the individual states to do the same (and we did.). Here in Michigan, sex crimes got broken down into three categories, called tiers, and that right there is the key. How long you stay on the sex offender registry, is based on which tier you end up in.
Michigan’s tier system can be confusing to people.
You’d think that a system with only three categories for all sex crimes would be simple to understand, but many people find it confusing. Why? Because it isn’t as intuitive as it could be. For example, Tier 1, which lots of people think of as the highest tier, is actually the lowest tier when it comes to how severe the crime is. Tier 3 is actually the category for the most serious sex crimes!
The tier you’re in determines how long you stay on the registry.
If you’re a convicted sex offender, the law says you have to register your address with the Michigan State Police a certain number of times every year. (And not just whenever you feel like it – there’re specific times when you’re required to register.) So how often and for how long?
- People on Tier I have to verify their home address and other personal information in-person once a year, for 15 years. After that their names are taken off the list and they’re free.
- People on Tier II must verify their address and other info in-person with the state cops twice a year, for 25 years.
- People on Tier III are on the list for life. However, they still have to register all of their information in-person four times a year, for as long as they live.
Being a registered sex offender affects your life in every way!
It doesn’t matter which tier you’re on, it’s going to be crappy. Being a registered sex offender in Michigan means losing friends, fewer job opportunities, and ruined reputations. And that’s not including the inconvenience of having to check in with the cops, over and over, for years (or maybe forever!)
So if you’ve been accused of a sex crime in Michigan, you’ve got an uphill battle ahead of you. Call The Kronzek Firm PLC at 866 766 5245 (866 7No Jail) right now, and talk to one of our aggressive and experienced sex crime defense attorneys. We’re available 24/7 to help you during this difficult time. We’ve been at this for decades and we can help you now.