Crime & Traffic

Registration requirement

Someone convicted of a sex crime or sexually-motivated crime must register as a sex offender. For most offenses, sex offender registration lasts forever. The Illinois State Police and police departments have websites listing all registered sex offenders. There is also a National Sex Offender Public Website. These websites are called the public registries and include:

• Photos,
• Names,
• Addresses, and
• Other information.

Anyone can look up a registrant on these websites, including employers, neighbors, friends, and family members. Being on a sex offender registry can have lifelong implications.

Frequently asked questions about sex offender registration. 

There is a $100 fee to register the first time and a $100 annual fee every year after that. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify based on their income. There is currently no statewide form to request a registration fee waiver. However, Chicago residents can use a registration fee waiver form created by the Chicago Police Department to ask that the fee be waived. Learn more about Chicago's process. Check with your local police department for details on their fee waiver process. If your police department doesn't have a form, you can create your own using Chicago's as a guide. 

"Sex offender" versus "sexual predator"

In Illinois, there is a difference between a "sex offender" and a "sexual predator." A judge may order a sex offender to register yearly for up to 10 years. The length of registration depends on their conviction When someone is declared guilty of a crime by a court . On the other hand, a sexual predator must register every year for the rest of their life. 

After 10 years, a sex offender’s information will no longer appear on the registry. 

The more serious the offense, the more likely someone is to be convicted as a sexual predator rather than a sex offender.

Juvenile convictions

Someone can petition (noun) A written request to a court (verb) To request from a court the court to have their name removed from the registry if they were a minor A person under 18 years old convicted in juvenile court Any court that has jurisdiction over matters involving juveniles. . The minor may petition within 2-5 years after registry. It depends on the seriousness of the conviction. This petition process does not apply to minors convicted as an adult Any person 18 years old or over .

The court considers specific factors to determine whether to grant an appeal A request to change a court's decision . These factors include:

• The results of a risk assessment,
• The minor’s sex offender history,
• Evidence Anything used to show that something is true of rehabilitation,
• Age at the time of the offense,
• Victim impact statements, and
• Other relevant factors.

730 ILCS 150/2. If it is more likely than not that the offender does not pose a risk, the judge may grant the appeal.

Removing your name from the registry

Once someone finishes their registration period, their personal information such as their name and address should no longer appear on any State or local registries.

For people who are still required to register, as explained in the section above, only juvenile For misdemeanor offenses, a defendant is considered a juvenile if the offense occurred when they were 17 or younger.For felony offenses, a defendant is considered a juvenile if the offense occurred when they were 16 or younger. offenders may appeal their name being listed. There is an exception to this rule. Adult offenders who were wrongfully convicted or who have been pardoned can petition the court to have their name removed from the registry.

What if you move states?

If you are required to register as a sex offender and decide to move states, there are a few obstacles to consider. First, you must register in your new state. You cannot avoid the registry by moving. Every state has some form of a sex offender registry. 

Second, you must make sure that moving states is not a violation of your probation A criminal court sentence which releases a person into the community. They are under supervision and given certain conditions. . In some cases, leaving the country may count as a sex offender probation violation. 

If you live in one state and work in another, you must register in both states. You must register in Illinois if you reside in the state for 3 or more calendar days a year. You must register in Illinois even if the 3 days are not consecutive (in a row). Likewise, if you move within Illinois, you must notify the local law enforcement agency of your address change within 3 days of moving.

Civil commitment

In addition to jail, the court may require a person convicted of a sex offense to go to a mental institution. This is called a civil commitment. 

Civil commitments aren't usually set for amount of time. Instead, offenders are released once they aren't a danger to others. 

The court can send offenders with mental or personality disorders to civil commitment. The judge decides if a person is eligible for civil commitment.

You can't appeal your civil commitment based on double jeopardy or being punished twice.