|
Sex
Offenders
Anyone who uses this information to injure, harass,
or commit a criminal act against any person may be
subject to criminal prosecution.
Click Here for
Washington County's new Offender Watch
Click Here for Level 2 and 3 Offenders in Hudson
Falls
Sex Offender
Risk Level Determination
Upon release to the community following a conviction
for a registerable offense, the sex offender is
required to register with the Division of Criminal
Justice Services. In order to determine the level of
community notification and duration of registration,
a hearing is held by the sentencing court. After
examining the facts in the particular case,
including, but not limited to, the use of force,
weapons, alcohol or drugs, victim's age, number of
victims, assault or injury of the victim and
relationship to the victim, the court makes a
determination regarding the offender's level of
notification, commonly called the risk level. The
risk level is based on the court's assessment as to
whether a particular offender is likely to repeat
the same or similar registerable offense and the
danger the offender poses to the community. Because
the risk level reflects factors unique to a
particular sex offender, offenders convicted of the
same offense may receive different risk levels.
The court may assign one of the following three risk
levels. The risk level governs the amount and type
of information which can be released as community
notification. (Note: In the interim period between
registration and the risk level hearing, the
offender's risk level may be referred to as
"pending" and information about the offender may
only be released in accordance with the standards
for a low risk offender).
Level 1 (low risk of repeat offense), or
Level 2 (moderate risk of repeat offense), or
Level 3 (high risk of repeat offense and a threat to
public safety exists).
In
addition to the risk level, the court also
determines whether the offender should be designated
a sexual predator, a sexually violent offender or a
predicate sex offender. This designation governs the
duration of the registration. Those offenders who
had a hearing on or after March 11, 2002 are
registered for 10 years unless they have been given
one of the above designations. If the offender has
been designated a sexual predator, a sexually
violent offender or a predicate sex offender, he or
she must register for life. Level 1 and 2 offenders
who had a determination proceeding prior to March
11, 2002 are registered for 10 years. Level 3
offenders who had a determination proceeding prior
to March 11, 2002 are registered for life unless
relieved of the duty to register by the sentencing
court after having been registered for a minimum of
13 years.
Another useful website:

|