Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 62 requires sex offender registration for most sex-related convictions and deferred adjudications. Registration duration is 10 years for some offenses or lifetime for most. Failure to register is itself a felony. Limited deregistration is available under § 62.401 in narrow circumstances.
Sex offender registration is one of the harshest collateral consequences in Texas criminal law. The restrictions reach where you live, where you work, where you travel, and what you say online. The rules are technical and unforgiving — a single missed reporting deadline becomes a new felony.
Who Must Register
Article 62.001(5) defines "reportable conviction or adjudication" — the trigger for registration. The list includes:
- Sexual assault (§ 22.011) and aggravated sexual assault (§ 22.021);
- Indecency with a child (§ 21.11);
- Continuous sexual abuse (§ 21.02);
- Possession or promotion of child pornography (§ 43.26);
- Online solicitation of a minor (§ 33.021);
- Compelling prostitution (§ 43.05);
- Sexual performance by a child (§ 43.25);
- Public lewdness with a minor (§ 21.07) and indecent exposure when victim is a child (§ 21.08);
- Trafficking-related offenses (§ 20A.02 — when sexual conduct involved);
- Certain federal sex offenses through SORNA reciprocity.
Even deferred adjudication triggers registration — there is no "non-conviction" exception for these offenses.
Registration Duration
10-Year Registration
For lower-tier offenses including:
- Indecency by exposure to a minor;
- Online sexual communication with a minor (without solicitation);
- Public lewdness with minor;
- Misdemeanor sexual offenses where registration is otherwise required.
Lifetime Registration
For most felony sex offenses including all of those listed above except the lower-tier offenses. Article 62.101(a) lists the specific lifetime offenses.
Registration Requirements
A registrant must:
- Register within 7 days of arriving in any Texas jurisdiction (Article 62.051);
- Verify annually at the local law enforcement agency — quarterly for those convicted of a sexually violent offense or with a determination of high risk under the Texas Department of Public Safety risk-assessment;
- Report changes within 7 days: address, employment, school enrollment, vehicle registration, online identifiers, name change, and travel;
- Provide DNA if not previously collected (Government Code Chapter 411);
- Display photo on the public DPS sex offender registry — viewable at records.txdps.state.tx.us/SexOffenderRegistry.
Residency, Employment, and Travel Restrictions
Residency
State law (Government Code § 508.187) restricts registrants on parole or supervision from residing within 1000 feet of:
- Schools, daycare facilities, and youth centers;
- Premises where children commonly gather;
- Specific complainant's residence.
Cities can impose additional restrictions. Some Dallas-Fort Worth cities prohibit residency within 2000 feet of schools.
Employment
Many Texas occupational licensing statutes prohibit licensure for sex offenders. Common bars include teaching (TEA/SBEC — see TEA/SBEC defense), nursing, real estate, and any role with children.
Travel
The International Megan's Law (34 U.S.C. § 21503) requires advance notice for international travel and a special passport identifier. Many countries deny entry to registered sex offenders.
Failure to Register
Failure to register, verify, or report changes under Article 62.102 is itself a felony:
- Class A misdemeanor for the lowest-tier obligation;
- State jail felony for most violations;
- Third-degree felony if the underlying offense was a third-degree or higher reportable conviction;
- Second-degree felony if the underlying offense required lifetime registration.
This means a missed reporting deadline can result in a new 2-20 year felony. Registration violations are some of the most aggressively prosecuted offenses in Texas.
Deregistration: The Narrow Path Out
Article 62.401 allows certain registrants to petition for deregistration when:
- Texas registration duration exceeds the period required under federal SORNA;
- The registrant is not a "current threat to the public safety" — determined through a court-ordered risk assessment;
- The registrant has completed sex-offender treatment.
The petition is filed in the convicting court. The Texas Council on Sex Offender Treatment performs the risk evaluation. Approval is far from automatic — most petitions fail at the risk-assessment stage.
Deregistration is generally not available for offenses against children under 14 or for those convicted of aggravated sexual assault.
What to Do If You Are Under Investigation or Charged
- Do not speak with police or investigators without an attorney — even to "explain" or "clear things up." Anything you say can be used.
- Do not contact the complainant, the complainant's family, or witnesses — directly, through social media, or through third parties.
- Preserve digital evidence — text messages, dating-app conversations, location data, emails — but do not delete anything.
- Do not post on social media about the allegations, your relationship with the complainant, or anything related to the case.
- Contact L and L Law Group immediately at (214) 466-1398 — we answer 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sex offender registration in Texas always for life?
No. Some lower-tier offenses require only 10 years of registration. But most felony sex offenses — sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, indecency by contact, child pornography — require lifetime registration.
Can I be removed from the Texas sex offender registry?
In narrow circumstances. Under Article 62.401, certain registrants whose Texas registration period exceeds federal requirements can petition for deregistration after completing treatment and passing a risk assessment.
Do I have to register if I got deferred adjudication?
Yes. Deferred adjudication for a reportable offense triggers registration just like a conviction. There is no "non-conviction" exception.
How far from a school can I live as a registered sex offender?
On parole or supervision, you cannot reside within 1000 feet of a school under Government Code § 508.187. Some cities impose 2000-foot restrictions. Off supervision, state restrictions ease but local ordinances may still apply.
What happens if I miss a registration deadline?
Failure to register is a felony — typically third-degree (2-10 years) for most reportable offenses, escalating to second-degree (2-20 years) for lifetime registrants. It is one of the most aggressively prosecuted offenses in Texas.
Speak With a Frisco Criminal Defense Attorney
If you or a loved one is facing sexual assault defense charges in Frisco, Collin County, or anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, the time to act is now. L and L Law Group attorneys are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (214) 466-1398 for a free, confidential consultation, or submit your case online and a licensed attorney will contact you directly.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Texas and federal criminal law are complex and fact-specific — please consult a licensed attorney about your particular situation. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.