Registration under Texas's sex offender registration statute is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing, detailed compliance obligation that touches nearly every part of a registrant's life. Missing a deadline or misunderstanding a requirement can trigger criminal charges entirely separate from the original offense. This post breaks down exactly what the law requires, day by day.
Initial Registration: The Critical 7-Day Window
Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 62.051(a), a person required to register must register with the law enforcement authority in the municipality where they reside or intend to reside for more than seven days. If the person is not in a municipality, they must register in the county where they reside or intend to reside.
The timing is strict: registration must occur not later than the 7th day after arriving at the intended residence. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.051(a). This is a hard deadline with no extensions.
If the person is under community supervision or parole, registration must happen on the same day the court pronounces the sentence or the order of deferred adjudication. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.051. For someone on probation or parole, there is no separate 7-day window. Compliance is immediate.
What Information Must Be Provided at Registration
The registration form is comprehensive. Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.051, a registrant must provide:
- Full legal name and any aliases or nicknames
- Date of birth
- Driver's license number and state
- Current and intended address of residence
- Address of employment, vocation, or school
- Vehicle information: make, model, vehicle identification number, color, and license plate number
- Online identifiers and usernames (for certain offense categories)
- Physical description and identifying marks
- Photograph and fingerprints
- Detailed criminal history and offense details
- A statement acknowledging all registration duties imposed by law
Accuracy matters. Any false or incomplete information on the registration form itself can lead to additional charges.
The 7-Days-Before Rule: Moving to a New Address
One of the most critical, and most frequently violated, provisions is the change of address requirement under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.055(a). A registrant cannot simply move and notify authorities after the fact.
The law is clear: a registrant must report to the primary registration authority not later than 7 days before moving to a new residence. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.055(a). Additionally, they must notify their supervising officer (if on probation or parole) before moving. The move must be to an intended residence that was disclosed during the initial registration or a previous update.
A special provision applies if a person is released to a temporary residence: if they don't move to their intended residence within 7 days of release, they must report to their supervising officer, provide the temporary address, and continue reporting weekly until they reach their intended residence. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.055(b).
The 7-Day-Before Rule Is One of the Most Commonly Violated Provisions
Violating the requirement to notify authorities before moving (even by one day) constitutes a separate criminal offense. Many registrants assume they can move and notify authorities after the fact, or that the rule only applies if they're on active supervision. Both assumptions are wrong. The requirement applies to all registrants, and it applies before the move, not after.
Registering in Another State or Jurisdiction
If a registrant moves to another state, they must comply with that state's registration requirements. Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.055, a registrant who moves out of Texas and to another state that has a sex offender registration requirement must register within 10 days of arrival in that state.
This is mandatory, not optional. Moving across state lines does not eliminate the obligation, it simply transfers it to the new state's law enforcement system. Texas law requires notification of the interstate move before departure.
Online Identifiers: New Usernames and Email Addresses
For certain registrants (particularly those convicted of offenses involving internet use or child victims) the law requires reporting of online identifiers. Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.0551, any registrant subject to online identifier reporting must report any new or changed online identifier (including usernames, email addresses, and other identifying information used online) to the primary registration authority within 7 days of the change.
This obligation requires active monitoring by the registrant. If you open a new email account, register a new social media handle, or adopt a new online username, the law requires prompt disclosure. The 7-day window is mandatory.
DNA Submission Requirements
Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42A.451, certain registrants must submit a blood sample or biological specimen to the Department of Public Safety for inclusion in the DNA database. This is a one-time requirement for most registrants, but it is mandatory.
The specimen is typically collected at the time of initial registration, but if it was not, the registrant remains obligated to provide it on demand. Refusal to comply can result in additional criminal charges.
Verification: In-Person Appearances and Updates
Registration is not passive. Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.058, a registrant must appear in person at the primary registration authority at regular intervals to verify and update their registration information.
At each verification appointment, the registrant must:
- Appear in person (no phone calls or proxy appearances)
- Produce acceptable proof of identity
- Produce proof of residence
- Sign a form confirming that all information in the registration file is accurate and current
- Update or correct any information that has become incomplete or inaccurate
The frequency of verification depends on the offense category. Some registrants must appear every 90 days; others must appear annually. Missing a verification appointment, or appearing without proper documentation, is a violation that can trigger additional charges.
Prerelease Notification: What You Must Be Told Before Release
Before a registrant is released from custody, the responsible agency must provide detailed written notice of all registration duties. Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.009 et seq., this notification is mandatory.
For someone on community supervision or deferred adjudication, the court must provide notice on the day the order is pronounced. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.009(c). For incarcerated registrants, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice must provide notice. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.009(d). For federal or interstate registrants, the Pardons and Paroles Division handles notification. For juvenile adjudications, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department provides the notice.
This notice requirement ensures that no registrant can claim ignorance of their duties. The government must prove that notice was provided, but once it is, a registrant cannot escape compliance by claiming they were unaware of the requirements.
Employment and School in a Different Jurisdiction
The registration authority is based on where a person lives, but work and school create additional registration obligations. Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.152, if a registrant is employed or attending school in a different municipality or county from where they reside, they may be required to register with the law enforcement authority in that jurisdiction as well.
This does not mean double registration in the traditional sense, but rather notification to and compliance with the authority where employment or schooling occurs. If a registrant moves to work or school in a different state, that state's registration requirement applies. The registrant must register with that state's law enforcement within 10 days if the state has a registration statute.
Centralized Registration: Where You Actually Register
Not all counties handle registration the same way. Under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.0045, a county commissioners court may designate a centralized countywide registration location. This is typically the sheriff's office or the office of a municipal police chief.
If a county has established a centralized registration authority, that is the only place where registration, verification, and address changes can occur (regardless of the municipality where the registrant lives). Before registering, a registrant should verify whether their county has a centralized authority.
The Bottom Line
Texas sex offender registration is not a set-and-forget requirement. It is an ongoing series of obligations, each with precise deadlines, each with criminal penalties for violation. From the initial 7-day registration window to the 7-day-before-moving rule to online identifier reporting to regular verification appearances, every requirement must be met exactly as written.
The consequences of non-compliance are severe. Each violation is a separate offense. Failing to notify authorities before moving is its own crime; missing a verification appointment is its own crime. These secondary offenses can carry sentences comparable to the original conviction.
If you are or may become subject to registration in Texas, understanding these requirements in detail is not optional. Compliance depends on it.
