In Arizona, an individual who is required to become a Registered Sex Offender after being convicted of a sex crime will be given a rank from Level One to Three. These levels refer to an individual’s perceived risk of reoffending in the future based on the results of an assessment screening. Level Three is reserved for individuals with the highest risk of recidivism, and comes with the greatest number of restrictions and requirements.
What Is a Level Three Sex Offender in Arizona?
A Level Three Sex offender has been placed in the category of individuals with a high possibility or likelihood of reoffending. This is the most severe registration category; Level One is for people with a low risk of recidivism and Level Two is for those with a moderate risk. Level Three individuals are viewed as presenting a danger or potential threat to the community and public safety. Therefore, their statuses are made known to the public.
Who Receives the Level Three Sex Offender Classification?
In Arizona, sex offender classifications are based on an assessment of 19 risk factors, not the type of criminal conviction. Many types of sex crimes could result in an individual in Arizona being classified as a Level Three Sex Offender, including sexual abuse, sexual conduct involving a minor, child molestation, rape and sex trafficking.
The sex offender screening process looks at factors such as:
- Prior convictions and arrests
- Age when first convicted
- Circumstances surrounding the offense
- Any aggravating circumstances
- The offender’s relationship to the victim
- Substance use disorders
- The offender’s mental state
The assessment uses a point system to produce two scores: one to determine the risk of the offender committing another sex crime and one for the risk of any type of criminal offense. A Level Three classification is assigned if an individual has a “high or very high risk” of committing a sex crime or a “very high or ultra-high” risk of committing any other crime in the future.
What Happens if You Are Classified as a Level Three Sex Offender?
If you are convicted of a sexual offense in Arizona and your assessment screening places you in the Level Three public risk category, this can have significant effects on your life and future. It can impact where you are allowed to live and work, as well as your reputation in the community and relationships with others.
Level Three Arizona Sex Offenders are required to put their names on the statewide registry that is managed by the Department of Public Safety, as well as the national database created by the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Level Three Offenders are prohibited from living in certain areas. If the offender changes residences, law enforcement officers must notify nearby neighborhoods using flyers and a public press release.
How Long Does a Level Three Sex Offender Classification Last?
Level Three Sex Offenders are subject to a lifelong registration requirement. Level Two Sex Offenders must reregister for 25 years, while Level One retain their status for 15 years. There is an exception if the individual is a minor under the age of 18 at the time of the conviction; in this case, the minor can stop registering as a sex offender at the age of 25.
Registering your name on the Sex Offender Database can have lifelong ramifications. To discuss a specific case with an experienced sex crime defense lawyer in Phoenix, contact Snader Law Group to request a free and confidential consultation.