Understanding the Criminal Justice System
Many of us are familiar with Megan’s Law, which is a federal law requiring sex offenders to register with authorities after their release. Indiana has a version of Megan’s Law called Zachary’s Law which implements the main purpose of Megan’s Law: to “release relevant information that is necessary to protect the public” concerning a sex offender.
Zachary’s Law directed Indiana sheriff’s departments to establish a joint Sex and Violent Offender Registry. When convicted criminals who meet the requirements to register under Zachary’s Law are released from prison, they must register with local authorities. Information about the offender, including their photo and their home address, is included in the registry and made available to the public. The registry is designed to provide information to the general public about those who are required to register as sex offenders in Indiana.
The registry allows anyone to search, on a county-by-county basis, for registered sex and violent offenders located in their area. Searches can be conducted based on an address – to identify registered offenders within a certain radius. It’s also possible to search by name, by city, by work or school or volunteer address, by Internet names or email addresses, and by phone numbers. The database also allows anyone to search for “non-compliant” offenders – ones who have failed to meet the conditions of their release.
Indiana requires a “sex or violent offender” to register if they live in Indiana, work in Indiana for more than 7 days at a time or more than 14 days in a year, or attend school in Indiana. They must register in the county where they are living, if in Indiana, and the county where they are working or going to school, if that is different from where they live.
Indiana has a broad definition of “sex or violent offender” that includes a wide range of sex crimes, as well as kidnapping where the victim is under 18 years of age, murder, and voluntary manslaughter.
If you have been convicted of a sex offense or a violent offense and have been advised that you need to register under Zachary’s Law, it is vitally important that you understand what is required of you and that you meet those requirements in a timely way. The experienced attorneys at Razumich & Associates have a detailed understanding of what you are required to do under Zachary’s Law to comply with the law’s registration and other obligations. We will help you make sure you do not run into trouble for failing to follow your registration and reporting requirements, as well as any other conditions of your release.
Call Razumich & Associates today if you have any questions about your obligations under Zachary’s Law. We are ready to help you make sure you comply so that you don’t face more criminal charges for failing to register, report, or meet any of the law’s other requirements. Call us today at 317-983-5333 or fill out our contact form, and we will get back to you to discuss your case and answer your questions in more detail.
