Texas

Number of Registered Sex Offenders: 46,484

Latest Events

Recent Action: September 2005, considering measures to disallow sex offenders from getting Viagra; most reforms and crackdown implemented in 2003

Statutes

Sex Offender Registration
Tex. Crim. Proc. Code Ann. § 62.01 et seq.

Community Notification of Sexual Offenders
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. § 62.045

Sexual Offenses Against Children and Penalties
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.11, § 22.011, § 22.021

Crimes Involving the Prostitution of Children
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 43.05

Child Abuse Crimes: Homicide
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.03

Regulations

Registration: Adults and juveniles; 4 risk levels; 7 days; foreign convictions are registrable; notification of changes: within 7 days incoming and outgoing, notify new state within 10 days

Notification: active (mailings within one mile of offender); mandatory for level 3, permissive for levels 1 and 2; within 7 days of being released or 10 days of moving to the state; applicable to adult sex offenders and juvenile sex offenders that were convicted as adults; offender required to notify law enforcement for college where attending or working

Risk Designation: 3 specified tiers; hearing required by committee

Tracking: verification of registry info 90 days or annually, in person; duration of registration 10 years or life (certain offenders may petition for exemption)

Penalties: State jail felony, or 2nd or 3rd degree felony

Resources

Website of Registry: https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/DPS_WEB/Sor/index.aspx
Relevant State Entity: Department of Public Safety