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Sex Offender Registration

Harrisburg Sex Crimes Lawyers Fighting for You

A conviction for a sex offense can haunt you for the rest of your life. In addition to prison time, you may have to register as a sex offender, making your photo, offense information, area of residence, and other personal information available to the public (and readily searchable online). This harsh requirement will make it difficult to get a job, find housing, and get your normal life back.

To learn how our experienced sex crimes attorneys in Harrisburg can help you, call (717) 268-4287 and set up a free initial consultation. We serve clients throughout Dauphin County.

State & Federal Requirements

There are two levels of laws governing sex offender registration:

  • At the state level, Pennsylvania imposes strict registration requirements for people convicted of certain sex crimes. You may be required to report to the state police your address, where you work, if you move, and if you attend school. You may have to report for the rest of your life.
  • Under federal law, the Adam Walsh Act or SORNA (Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act) creates a three-tiered system of mandatory registration based on the nature of the underlying offense. Failure to comply is a felony.

Most types of sex offenses result in mandatory registration. Even for misdemeanor sexual offenses such as indecent exposure, you face a reporting requirement for 10 years. After a conviction for a serious charge such as rape, you will have a hearing before the Sexual Offenders Assessment Board (SOAB) to determine whether you must register as a sexually violent predator.

Get Help Navigating This Complex Area

As you can see, the requirements for sex offender registration can be confusing. At Shaffer & Engle, our attorneys can help you navigate this and other legal aspects of sex crimes. We are extremely well-versed in this complex area of law. Our Harrisburg sex crimes lawyers have successfully handled many high-profile cases, and our team includes a former prosecutor.

What Our
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  • Jeff has helped me in the past with 3 speeding tickets and I know he is a good person.

    “Jeff has helped me in the past with 3 speeding tickets and I know he is a good person.”

    DM

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    “Thank you for taking my case and winning it! As you can see, I received my New York license today. Without your counsel and direction, this would have been an ongoing nightmare. I will without hesitation, recommend you and your firm to my friends, family and colleagues in PA.”

    Dan

  • They handled everything beautifully and were able to minimize our anxiety throughout a difficult process.

    “Jeff is the fourth attorney that I have worked with regarding custody of my son. My previous attorneys were neither knowledgeable of the law as it applied to my case nor followed through on the actions they said they would take. Not only did Jeff know what he was doing, but he did everything that he said he would in a timely fashion. Given that my case involved an international relocation, allocation of sole custody for residency purposes abroad, and a non-custodial parent who was anything but cooperative, there was a high likelihood that my case would be unsuccessful with even the potential of being ordered to return to the US to maintain physical custody of my son. Today my child and I are happily living abroad and I was able to obtain the residency permit for my son to remain here. I attribute the success of my case to Jeff and his firm. They handled everything beautifully and were able to minimize our anxiety throughout a difficult process. Thank you!”

    Former Client

  • You believed in me and gave me the courage to tell the jury my side of the story

    “I can't thank you enough for giving me my life back! Everyone told me I should just plead guilty but I knew I didn't do what they said I did. You believed in me and gave me the courage to tell the jury my side of the story and explain why I signed a confession when I never committed that crime. I was very scared during the trial but I felt good knowing you believed in me. I am a free man today because of you. God bless you.”

    S.G.

  • Jeff advised me appropriately and always responded to my calls promptly.

    “At the law offices of Shaffer & Engle, my case was handled with professionalism, compassion, and dedication. Facing criminal charges was a very frightening experience to me, but I knew I was in good hands with Jeff Engle. I had no past experiences with the judicial system. I felt I was treated with courtesy and dignity. Jeff did everything within his legal powers to provide a great service when I was in need. From my experience with Jeff, he has been more than a lawyer; he is now considered a great new friend of my family. He took a personal interest in my case and for that I am eternally grateful. Jeff always delivered on what he said to me and did everything he set out to do. Jeff fought the prosecutor (DA) every step of the way without hesitation. Jeff advised me appropriately and always responded to my calls promptly. What could have been a truly awful situation was resolved completely to my satisfaction. I am available at any time to address any questions with respect to Jeff Engle as an attorney or as a person. I hold him in the highest regard. If anyone ever wanted to see the definition of what a true attorney is...they should be able to open up a dictionary and see a picture of Jeff next to it. I would and will recommend him and his law firm to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and aggressive law firm or criminal defense attorney.”

    Tara K