Texas law imposes two fundamentally different registration periods for sex offenders: lifetime registration for serious offenses and ten-year registration for everything else. The duration you face depends entirely on your offense category, and understanding which tier applies (and when the clock starts) can dramatically affect your future.
The Two Tiers: Lifetime vs. Ten Years
Texas law creates a bright-line distinction between registration periods. Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.101(a), certain offenses carry lifetime registration. All other reportable offenses fall under art. 62.101(b) and (c) and carry a ten-year registration period.
This distinction is not academic, it affects verification frequency, your legal obligations for decades, and when (or whether) you can ever be free of the registry.
Lifetime Registration Under Article 62.101(a)
Lifetime registration applies to two categories of offenders:
- Sexually violent offenses as defined in Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.001(6), which include aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, indecency with a child, and certain other particularly serious offenses
- Certain other reportable offenses specifically enumerated in art. 62.101(a), such as child pornography and continuous sexual abuse of a child
For these offenders, the registration duty ends only upon death. There is no termination date, no relief, no removal from the registry, it is a permanent, lifetime obligation.
If you need the complete list of offenses triggering lifetime registration, refer to Part 1 of this series, which catalogues all qualifying offenses with statutory citations.
Ten-Year Registration Under Articles 62.101(b) and (c)
All other reportable convictions or adjudications (meaning those not covered by lifetime registration) trigger ten-year registration duties under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.101(b) and (c).
But here is where many people misunderstand the law: the ten-year clock does not start on the date of conviction. It starts on the later of three potential dates:
- The date of release from a penal institution (prison, jail, or detention facility)
- The date of discharge from community supervision (probation, parole, mandatory supervision)
- The date the court dismisses the proceedings and discharges the person
This "later of" language is critical. If you serve two years in prison and then receive five years of probation, the ten-year clock does not begin until your probation ends, not when you are released from prison. The burden of registration obligation runs for 10 full years from the moment you are completely free of the criminal justice system.
Once the ten-year period expires, your registration duty automatically terminates. You are no longer required to register, verify, or comply with sex offender registration statutes.
Comparison Table: Lifetime vs. Ten-Year Registration
| Registration Tier | Qualifying Offenses | Duration | Verification Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifetime | Sexually violent offenses (Art. 62.001(6)); certain other offenses in Art. 62.101(a) | For life; ends only at death | Every 90 days (if sexually violent offense); once per year (other lifetime offenses) |
| Ten-Year | All other reportable offenses not in the lifetime category | Ten years from later of: release from prison, discharge from supervision, or court discharge | Once per year |
Verification Schedules: How Often You Must Register
Beyond the duration of registration, Texas law mandates specific verification schedules under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.058. Verification means you must physically appear at your primary registration authority and confirm the accuracy of your registration information.
The verification frequency depends on your offense tier:
- Lifetime registrants with sexually violent offenses (as defined in Art. 62.001(6)): must verify every 90 days
- Other lifetime registrants (those convicted of certain other offenses in Art. 62.101(a)): must verify once per year
- Ten-year registrants: must verify once per year
Verification involves more than simply existing on a registry. When you verify, you must:
- Appear in person at your primary registration authority
- Produce proof of identity and current residence
- Sign the registration form, affirming under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate
- Update any information that has changed since your last registration or verification
Failure to verify on schedule is itself a criminal offense and can result in new charges. This is not merely an administrative requirement (it is a statutory duty with criminal consequences for non-compliance).
Key Distinction: Sexually Violent Offenses Matter
The difference between a "sexually violent offense" as defined in Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.001(6) and other reportable offenses is enormous. If you committed a sexually violent offense, you verify every 90 days for the rest of your life (four times per year, every year, until you die). If your offense is only reportable (but not sexually violent), you verify once per year for ten years (or once per year for life, depending on the specific offense). This distinction determines the practical burden of compliance for decades.
When the Clock Stops and When It Doesn't
For ten-year registrants, the critical question is: once the ten years expire, is the duty truly over?
Yes. Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.101(b) and (c), when the ten-year period expires, the registration requirement terminates. You are released from all registration duties and the registry entry may be removed.
However, there are important caveats:
- New convictions restart or extend the period: If you are convicted of another reportable offense during your ten-year period (or after you thought it ended), a new registration period begins. Multiple offenses can run sequentially, meaning your total registration burden extends far beyond the initial ten years.
- Incarceration may affect the running of time: If you are incarcerated again after your initial sentence, the mechanics of how the ten-year period continues or is tolled require careful analysis of the specific facts and applicable statutes.
- Appeals do not pause registration: Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.001(1), the registration obligation applies "regardless of the pendency of an appeal." Your registration duty begins even while your conviction is on appeal.
Important Clarifications: When Duration Rules Don't Work the Way You Might Think
Deferred adjudication does not shorten the period. Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.001(5), even if you receive a deferred adjudication (a form of probation in which conviction is not entered), the ten-year clock still runs from the date you are discharged from supervision. Deferred adjudication provides many benefits in criminal law, but it does not reduce your registration period. You still register for the full ten years (or for life, if the offense qualifies).
Out-of-state offenders must comply with Texas schedules while in Texas. If you are a registrant from another state living in Texas, you must comply with Texas verification schedules while you are in Texas, even if your home state has different requirements. Texas law applies to all individuals required to register under the Texas statute, regardless of where they were initially convicted.
The statute is strict about timing. The "later of" provision for when the ten-year clock starts is not discretionary. Courts interpret Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.101(c) to require the later date, not the earlier one. If a trial court incorrectly calculates your registration end date, you have grounds to seek judicial correction.
Practical Implications
Understanding when your registration period ends is more than a technical matter. It affects your planning, your ability to rebuild your life, and your legal obligations for years to come.
If you are subject to ten -year registration, mark your calendar. Know the exact date your obligation ends. Some individuals miss this deadline and continue registering unnecessarily, believing they are still required to do so. Others stop registering after ten years, unaware that their specific offense actually qualified for lifetime registration. Either mistake can have serious consequences.
If you are subject to lifetime registration, understand that the law does provide one path to relief in limited circumstances: judicial relief from sex offender registration in Texas (covered in later parts of this series). However, relief is rare and requires meeting strict statutory criteria. For most lifetime registrants, registration is a permanent obligation.
