Registered sex offenders will be required to obtain new passports that identify them as sex offenders.
A change in the law regarding passports will require registered sex offenders to turn in their passports. Under this new requirement, anyone who is on the sex offender registry for a sex crime against a minor must apply for a new passport that contains the phrase, “The bearer was convicted of a sex offense against a minor, and is a covered sex offender pursuant to 22 United States Code 212b(c)(1).” All new passports issued to convicted sex offenders will also bear this same language. Anyone who is currently on the sex offender registry for crimes against a minor will have their passport revoked.
This new passport rule is a result of International Megan’s Law, which is an effort to crack down on child exploitation on a global basis. The law required the State Department to ensure that all passports of registered sex offenders are marked with a unique identifier, such as the phrase noted above. This passport also will allow the Department of Justice to track sex offenders as they travel internationally. Importantly, these passports do not prevent anyone on the sex offender registry from traveling abroad; they simply alert authorities in other countries that someone on the registry is entering their country. Depending on the country, this may result in that person being denied entry. Because passport cards cannot be marked in the same way, anyone on the sex offender registry is no longer eligible to receive a passport card, and can only have a passport book.
This step by the federal government raises the stakes yet again for being placed on the sex offender registry. While the registry serves a vital purpose in helping to protect community members against predators, the reality is that many people are placed on the registry for relatively insignificant crimes — or for things that they did when they were themselves minors. For example, a person may be placed on the sex offender registry for “child pornography” for sending nude selfies as a teenager to a fellow teen, or for engaging in a romantic relationship with a fellow teenager who is below the age of consent. The sex offender registry treats all sex offenders in the same, whether it is a 19 year old who was in a consensual relationship with a 15 year old, or a 50 year old who assaulted a 5 year old. To mark their passports in the same manner is another injustice.
If you have been charged with a sex crime, it is vital that you have an experienced criminal attorney in Los Angeles CA to represent you. An aggressive lawyer can make the difference in how your case is resolved, and even whether or not you are placed on the sex offender registry. With the potential for lifetime registration and having your passport marked in such a way, the stakes are incredibly high. That is why it is more important than ever to hire the best possible criminal attorney in Los Angeles CA.
The Chambers Law Firm has years of experience representing people who have been charged with sex crimes and other types of crimes in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California. Contact us today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation and learn more about how we can help you.
