Probation, parole, and supervised arrest are a whole lot better than being in jail or prison, but as long as you are under supervision by the criminal justice system, the law is always in your business. If you miss an appointment with an officer, you are in serious trouble, and you may need to change careers or avoid some of your friends, but you have a lot more control over your daily life than you would if you were incarcerated. At least you know when your next appointment and your next drug test are, however, so you can mentally prepare yourself. When you are registered as a sex offender, however, law enforcement is an even bigger presence in your daily life. You must follow all kinds of requirements about where you can live and work and with whom you can associate. You must also notify your local police department every time you change addresses or jobs. Furthermore, the police have the right to knock on the door of your house or apartment anytime they choose, just to verify that you live where you say you do. A sex crime attorney can help you if you are facing new criminal charges after an unannounced visit from police during a sex offender compliance check.
Twelve Men Face New Charges After Sex Offender Registry Compliance Check Operation in Lubbock
Sex offender compliance check initiatives tend to have catchy names, as if they were military operations that can change the course of history. One that took place in Lubbock in the summer of 2022 went by the name of Operation Lubbock Tornado. The operation began just after the Fourth of July and ended on August 4. During the monthlong initiative, law enforcement officers made unannounced visits to the residential addresses listed for 466 people registered as sex offenders in Lubbock.
By the time the operation was finished, the Lubbock police department had made twelve arrests for noncompliance with sex offender registry requirements, and perhaps for other illegal acts of which they discovered evidence during the compliance checks. The twelve defendants arrested in connection with Operation Lubbock Tornado range in age from 37 to 72.
Residency requirements and sex offender registry compliance are often a thorny situation from a legal standpoint. Many convicted sex offenders do not have stable housing, and it is often through no fault of their own that they had to leave their registered addresses on short notice and were unable to notify police about their new location. If you are accused of violating the terms of your sex offender registry requirement because your housing situation was unstable, it is in your interest to hire a criminal defense lawyer.
Contact the Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC About Sex Crime Cases
A criminal defense attorney can help you if police are accusing you of failing to update your registered address or another violation of a sex offender registry requirement. Contact the Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC to discuss your case.