Sex crimes involving children are punished harshly in Oklahoma. Enlist the help of our criminal defense attorneys today.
Under Oklahoma law, a sexual predator is any person that has been convicted of more than one sex-related crime, that has been a violent offender, or that has been convicted of victimizing children. The sexual predator statutes that Oklahoma currently has in place deal mostly with requiring sexual predators to register each year with the state and remain in contact with local law enforcement. If you have been charged with a sex offense in Oklahoma that puts you at risk of being labeled a sexual predator, contact our criminal defense attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center today. Our skilled criminal defense team can help you build a solid defense in your case, and can help you avoid having your constitutional rights violated during the process.
Registration Requirements of Sexual Predators
Pursuant to Oklahoma Statute 57-583 (a), “Any person who becomes subject to the provisions of the Sex Offenders Registration Act, Section 581 et seq. of this title, on or after November 1, 1989, shall register as follows:
- With the Department of Corrections within ten (10) business days of being convicted or receiving a suspended sentence if the person is not incarcerated, or within (10) business days of release of the person from a correctional institution, except as provided in subsection B of this section; and
- With the local law enforcement authority having jurisdiction in the area where the person resides or intends to reside for more than seven (7) days. The registration is required within seven (7) days after entering the jurisdiction of the law enforcement authority.
Pursuant to subsection B of this Oklahoma Statute, “Any person who has been convicted of an offense on or after November 1, 1989, in another jurisdiction, which offense if committed or attempted in this state, would have been punishable as one or more of the offenses listed in Section 582 of this title and who enters and remains in this state shall register as follows:
- With the Department of Corrections when the person enters and intends to be in the state for thirty (30) days or longer. Such registration is required within thirty (30) days after entering the state; and
- With the local law enforcement authority having jurisdiction in the area where the person intends to reside or to stay for more than seven (7) days. The registration is required with local law enforcement within seven (7) days after entering the jurisdiction of the law enforcement authority.
Pursuant to subsection C of this Oklahoma Statute, “The registration with the Department of Corrections required by this section shall be maintained by the Department of Corrections for a period of ten (10) years from the date of registration; however, persons who successfully complete the sex offender treatment program provided by the Department of Corrections, shall only be required to register with the Department for two (2) years after date of discharge. Repeat offenders after discharge shall be required to register for the full ten-year period.”
Pursuant to subsection D of the Statute, “The registration with the local law enforcement authority required by this section shall be maintained by such authority for five (5) years.”
Contact Our Defense Attorneys for Legal Help
As evidenced by the stringent requirements governing sex offender registration and sexual predators in Oklahoma, the state has taken a hard stance against those convicted of sex crimes, particularly repeat offenders. If you are facing charges for a sex crime in Oklahoma, especially one that may result in required sex offender registration, your best defense is, as they say, a strong offense. Contact our knowledgeable criminal defense lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center to discuss your legal options and how you can go about protecting yourself from what will likely be unfair judgment by the prosecutor and investigators involved in your case. Our defense attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center understand that it can be embarrassing or uncomfortable to seek legal advice for a sex offense, but we are here to help. With our experienced defense team on your side, you can protect your legal rights and improve your chances of having your case dismissed or your charges reduced.