Effective January 1, 2021, California changed its lifetime mandatory sex offender registration law and now has a tiered registration system for adults and juveniles who are required to register as sex offenders.

For adults, there are three tiers of sex offender registration periods for people who were convicted of sex offenses. The tier levels require people to register as sex offenders for 10 years, 20 years, or for life, depending largely on the specific offense for which they were convicted.

For people who were juveniles at the time of their offense and had their case adjudicated in juvenile court, the tier levels are five and ten years, again depending largely on the specific offense for which the person was adjudicated in juvenile court.

If you are currently registered as a sex offender, and you have satisfied the mandated minimum registration period according to your tier, you may be eligible to be relieved from your obligation to register as a sex offender. It is not automatic. You must petition to be removed.

People who register in Orange County: If you currently register as a sex offender in Orange County, and you would like the Orange County Public Defender to help you petition to be removed from the sex offender registry, please contact us at RegistrationRelief@ocpubdef.com  Please provide us only with your name, date of birth, tier level if you know it, and contact information.