In Washington, juveniles convicted of sexual crimes are not exempt from sex offender registration. However, the state has made several changes to the law that can reduce the impact of registration.
In 2023, the new law reduced the number of offenders required to register. It also decreased the number of years a person must stay on the sex offender list, depending on the type of crime.
If you are a parent of a juvenile convicted of such a crime or are facing sex charges yourself, here is what you need to know about juvenile sex offender registration.
When are juveniles required to register?
Individuals under the age of 18 are required to register when convicted of the following:
- Class A or Class B felony sex offense at 16 or 17 years old with no Special Sex Offender Disposition Alternative (SSODA)
- Rape in the first degree at 14 or 15 years old
- Rape in the second degree at 14 or 15 years old with no SSODA
- A prior sex offense
- A sex offense outside of Washington, in tribal court or in a federal court
- Kidnapping
Juveniles are also required to register if the court deems it necessary according to factors outlined in the new law. For example, an offender may be required to register if the court finds strong evidence that the person poses a serious threat to public safety.
How long do juveniles stay on the sex offender list?
Juveniles less than 15 years old at the time of the offense must register for two years. On the other hand, juveniles 15 or older at the time of the crime and convicted of a Class A felony sex offense must register for three years.
Once the duty to register ends, the person will receive a letter notifying them so. At this point, sealing the case may be possible, but it requires a court process.
Another important thing to note is this law is retroactive. This means individuals convicted may be able to end their duty to register sooner, even if their conviction happened before the new law took effect.
A conviction can have long-term impacts on your life, but the effect of sex offender registration can last even longer. If you or your child are facing such charges, guidance from a skilled criminal defense attorney can help mitigate the worst outcomes.