Vermont Sex Offender Registry Information

The Vermont sex offender registry came into existence in 1996 when the 13 VSA, Chapter 167, Sub chapter 3 was passed. According to 13 V.S.A. § 5402, Vermont State Department of Safety is mandated to create, develop and maintain sex offender registry which would hold information on sex offenders residing in a particular community. The official website of registry is http://www.dps.state.vt.us/cjs/s_registry.htm.

According to the state law, information from Vermont sex offender registry can be accessed by law enforcement agencies at federal, state and local levels for any legal activities, governmental agencies at state and federal levels, and employer authorized by Vermont Criminal Information Center to request for records. This release of information is conditioned on certain grounds and the offender’s identity is not disclosed in any case. Probate court can also access the information to check the background of a person applied for change of name and address under 811-15 Section. Apart from all these, a sex offender can also access the information to review if the record is accurate.

Vermont Sex Offender Law:

The Vermont sex offender registry Law is applicable for those offenders who have been convicted and completed sentences for usual and aggravated sexual assaults, vulgar and indecent act with child or adult, sexual act while on a job of care giver, sexually exploiting an under age individual, kidnapping of minor, or solicitation or patronization of prostitution. For registration there are certain conditions as well. If the individual was convicted in the state of Vermont after July 1, 1996, or have committed the crime before but had been in custody of Department of Corrections and has been released on or after July 1, 1996, then the registration is mandatory.

Along with that, if the person was under supervision of Correction Commissioner for committing a sex crime in or outside Vermont before July 1, 1996, Act requires him or her to register with the Act. If a convict who has committed the crime in Vermont or any other state prior to July 1, 1996, have completed the sentence and have started residing in Vermont, registration is required. In legal terms, an individual is said to have started residing if he or she stays in a state for more than ten consecutive days. Vermont sex offender registry also demands registration of an out of state sex offender attends a school, college or office in Vermont on part-time or a full time basis.

Registration Process:

For Vermont sex offender registry, the offender is required to provide the authorities with personal as well as private details. The information includes name and aliases, sex, birth date and year, race, current living address, Social Security Number, identification marks, fingerprints, description of the offense which required him or her to register, date of verdict and completion of sentence, current photo and the current institution attended by him or her. It could be school, college or any office.

If the offender had been convicted for sexual assault, recidivism or violent sex offense, he or she requires registering every quarter for the lifetime and in three days of address change. Sex offenders from other states must report to Vermont sex offender registry within ten days of moving to the state of Vermont. Resident offenders must register every year within ten days of the first registration and within ten days of change in address if had been convicted at a different place.

In case, an offender fails to register with Vermont sex offender registry, an arrest warrant is issued against him or her. A first time offender is imprisoned for less than a year and is fined for an amount equal to or lower than $1000. For subsequent repetitions the incarceration period increases to three years and amount of fine reaches $5000.

To learn more go through http://www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/fullsection.cfm?Title=13&Chapter=167&Section=05402.