Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Sex And Child Offenders Must Register: It's The Law Now

The Arkansas Crime Information Center August 25 released the registration requirements for the new Arkansas `Sex and Child Offender Registration Act of 1997.'

This law requires a person to register if they have been found guilty of a sexually violent offense, a sex offense, or certain offenses where the victim was a minor.

Registration is also required for individuals who are incarcerated, on probation or parole, or are serving any form of community supervision as a result of an adjudication of guilt for sex or child offenses listed in the act.

Sex offenders not currently incarcerated or under supervision are required to go to their local law enforcement agency to register. Sex offenders moving to Arkansas from another state are also required to register with the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the city or county where thay plan to live.

Once registered, a sex offender must verify their place of residency every six months. They must also notify the Arkansas Crime Information Center 10 days before moving to a new address.

A person who fails to register or who fails to report changes of address will be guilty of a Class D felony. Class D felonies are punishable by up to six years imprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine.

Another part of the new law relates to informing the public on the wherabouts of sex offenders.

New Jersey enacted the first law requiring public notification of released sex offenders after the death of seven-year-old Megan Kanka at the hands of a convicted child molester who had been released from custody. There is now federal legislation, referred to as "Megan's Law," which requires that notice be given to the public upon release of certain offenders.

The new Arkansas law requires public notice, in accordance with the federal Megan's Law.

Guidelines on notification are being developed by the Arkansas Commission on child abuse, rape and domestic violence.

Act 989 of 1997 defines the offenses which require registration. Some of the following offenses may seem repetitious, however they are provided as a complete listing as specified by law.

Rape, carnal abuse in the first degree, carnal abuse in the second degree, carnal abuse in the third degree, sexual misconduct, sexual abuse in the first degree, sexual abuse in the second degree, sexual solicitation of a child, violation of a minor in the first degree, violation of a minor in the second degree, incest, engaging children in sexually explicit conduct for use in visual or print medium, transportation of minors for prohibited sexual conduct, employing or consenting to use of child in sexual performance, producing, directing or promoting sexual performance, promoting prostitution in the first degree, stalking, an attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses listed above, an adjudication of guilt for an offense of the law of another state, for a federal offense, or for military offense, which is substattially equivalent to any of the offenses above, a violation of any former law of this state that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses above, kidnapping pursuant to when the victim is a minor and the offender is not the parent of the victim, false imprisonment in the first degree pursuant to when the victim is a minor and the offender is not the parent of the victim, permanent detention or restraint pursuant to when the victim is a minor and the offender is not the parent of the victim, any sex offense whent the victim is a minor, an attempt, soliciation, or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses starting with kidnapping, an adjudication of guilt for an offense of the law of another state, for a federal offense, or for a military offense, which is substatially equivalent to any of the offenses starting with kidnapping, a violation of any former law of this state that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses starting with kidnapping.

This is not a total list.

You can get a complete copy of Act 989 of 1997 and additional information concerning registration under this act by contacting the Arkansas Crime Information Center, One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, or by calling 501-682-2222.