Due to a variety of reasons, law makers, judges and the general public have largely supported severe on-going restrictions imposed upon convicted sex offenders, even after they have served the length of their sentences. Few lawbreakers are subject to the kinds of restrictions that those convicted of sex crimes must observe on a daily basis. This reality can be quite frustrating for some offenders, who would prefer to move on with their lives free of registration requirements, restrictive housing laws and employment challenges.
However, it is critical for the more than 15,000 sex offenders in Colorado to understand that failure to adhere to these restrictions could land you in very hot water. Nearly 900 sex offenders in Colorado are currently failing to adhere to registration guidelines. As a result, the U.S. Marshals Office and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are attempting to track them down and hold them accountable.
In addition to a three-week focused effort in November, law enforcement has made it an ongoing priority to ensure that sex offenders comply with registration and residence laws. A spokesperson for CBI recently told local media that compliance is “a very big priority, we have a whole unit dedicated to maintaining that list. We post that information on the website. You can get background, statistics, there’s even a mapping unit on there where you can look at the state or drill down to a neighborhood so you can get a snapshot of what’s going on.”
Registration and residence restrictions are frustrating for those who must follow them. But whether or not these restrictions are just is a separate issue from the fact that failure to adhere to them can land offenders back in jail. If you are required to register and have avoided doing so or you have questions about the process, please contact an experienced criminal defense attorney who can guide you through your options.
Source: Fox2Now.com, “Officials Search For Hundreds Of Sex Offenders On The Run In Colorado,” Nov. 13, 2012