If you are convicted of a sex crime in Missouri, there will be several steps for you to take in order to fully comply with the sentence the court has handed down to you. If one of the requirements of your sentence is for you to register as a sex offender, you’ll need to be aware of and follow these guidelines.

When to register

If you are required to register as a sex offender, you have three days from the day of your conviction, your release from incarceration, or the start of your probation to complete your registration. You must register, in person, with the chief law enforcement officer in the county of where you live or plan to live in the immediate future, provide a statement of registration and submit fingerprints. You may be required to pay some processing fees as well. Once you’ve submitted your information, the CLEO is then responsible for submitting you information to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Criminal Records and Identification Division and any higher education institutions you may be employed with or attending as a student.

Working in or Moving to Missouri

Also, if you are a registered sex offender in another state, you must register with the State of Missouri upon moving within state limits. If you still live in the state in which you are registered under, but work, attend school or training, or have a temporary residence in Missouri, you must also register in the State of Missouri. You’ll want to take note of any changes in the frequency in which you must register as that can vary from state to state. For example, if you’re only required to register once a year in the state where you used to live, but for the same offense, Missouri requires you to register every 90 days, you must comply with the Missouri law.

In fact, you should become familiar with any different requirements under the Missouri law. Sex offenders may be required to live, work, or reside further away from schools, park, or swimming pools than in your previous state of residence. Regardless of what your previous state’s laws were, you’ll be expected to abide by the limitations in Missouri.

It’s not easy or convenient to keep up with the requirements of a sex offender’s sentence. Make sure you do all you can to protect yourself and avoid these kinds of consequences. Find a criminal defense attorney who will work hard for you.