IN PREPARATION FOR HALLOWEEN, MICHIGAN POLICE TRACK DOWN SEX OFFENDERS
A naturally scary undercurrent comes with October. After all, this month is known for Halloween. While this holiday is excitable and fun for many young kids, the event brings about different sentiments for former offenders of sex crimes.
With Halloween approaching, state police in Michigan are requiring sex offenders to register into systems in coming weeks. Those who fail to comply will face arrest. According to numbers from the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry, Michigan has roughly 40,000 sex offenders entered in the system. Because Halloween is known as a holiday where children go from home to home to collect candy, officers are especially alert of registration statuses during this period.
The registration and verification period for this month is also known as “Operation Verify.” In October 2013, tier 3 offenders are required to check in with the sheriff’s office, police station or Michigan State Police post to authenticate and confirm their addresses. In general, tier 3 sex offenders are required to confirm the location of their residences during the first portion of the following months: January, April, July and October.
Once names are entered into the system, Michigan residents have the ability to look at the registry online. A search can be performed by entering details about a person or by creating a search of an exact location, which will create a report for a sectioned radius around the provided address. The registry includes interactive maps with offenders’ photos. It also includes inmate numbers from the Michigan Department of Corrections.
During this month, state police will conduct sweeps. Former offenders who do not follow the mandates will face serious consequences.
Sex offender requirements
If an offender relocates, he or she must register his or her new home address within three days. Yet, this is not the only level of oversight. In general, a former offender must report all of the following:
- Any change of residence or domicile.
- Any temporary lodging information (outside the residence) for stays exceeding seven days.
- Any changes in employment.
- All vehicle information for cars operated or owned by the offender.
- Any changes to one’s legal name.
- All online screen names and email addresses.
- All enrollment information for educational institutions.
Former offenders must follow these legal mandates. Moreover, convicted persons must keep an identification card on hand at all times.
Halloween is one period of the year where Michigan authorities are especially aware of sex offenders’ presence in the state. However, in reality, local law enforcement will always keep track of their whereabouts.
If you are facing criminal allegations for a sex crime, it is important to take these charges seriously. Your life can drastically change after a conviction, and your rights might be limited. To help gain the best possible outcome for your case, retain a legal professional. An attorney versed in sex offender laws can help prepare your case.