REGISTRY REMOVAL

It is important for individuals convicted of sexual offenses to know that sex offender registration does not always have to be a lifetime burden for all people. Depending on an individual’s circumstances, they may be entitled to removal from the registry.

For example, in August of 2018, Missouri enacted legislation changing Missouri’s Sex Offender Registration obligations from lifetime for all persons subject to registration under Missouri Sex Offender Registry to a Tiered system, subjecting persons to registration by Missouri’s Sex Offender Registry for a period of 15 years if the person is a Tier I offender, 25 years if the person is Tier II offender, or lifetime if the person is a Tier III offender. Once a person’s term of registration has expired the person can petition the court in the Missouri county of conviction, for the offense resulting in the registration obligation, for removal from the Missouri Sex Offender Registry.  What Tier a person is classified as depends upon the person’s offense or offenses of conviction. Additionally, Tier I persons may be eligible to have their period of registration reduced by 5 years, from a registration term of 15 years to a registration term of 10 years if the person meets certain requirements. A Tier 1 person is eligible for the 5-year reduction in registration term if the person meets certain requirements.