St. Petersburg Failure to Register as a Career Criminal Lawyer

Florida is among the most difficult states for those convicted of crimes to reestablish their lives. Even worse, the laws of this state do not reflect the sentiment of its citizens. In a constitutional referendum in 2018, voters in Florida overwhelmingly voted to allow convicted felons to reintegrate into society by restoring their civil right to vote upon completion of their sentences. The government of Florida fought back relentlessly against the will of the people in order to prevent this constitutional amendment. The actions of the governor’s office in that situation reflect the overall difficulty faced by those convicted of crimes in successfully reentering society in this state. If you have found yourself facing this difficulty, don’t hesitate to reach out to a dedicated St. Petersburg criminal defense lawyer to help get you the best result.

Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense, Florida’s legislature has enacted complex rules and regulations that can make it hard to determine what a person’s status is following a criminal case. Even when an arrest is proven to be unlawful and the case is dismissed by the state, arrest records can remain public record permanently unless action is taken to seek an expungement. And if you do happen to be convicted of a felony, the restrictions and regulations that will be placed on you can be extremely unclear and confusing. For those with multiple felony convictions, certain charges can result in your designation as a “career criminal.” If you are designated a career criminal by the state, you will have to deal with a lifetime of pseudo-supervision by the State.

One of the hardships faced by those who are designated as career criminals is the criminal offense of failure to register. Most people are familiar with the laws requiring sex offenders and sexual offenders to register with the local sheriff’s office, but many criminal offenders themselves are unaware of the requirement of career criminals to similarly register. Under Florida Statute 775.261, certain criminal offenders are required to register with the State of Florida in different time intervals depending on the crimes they have been convicted of. Failure to comply with these rules is a serious felony offense that will require zealous representation. If you are being investigated for failure to register as a career criminal, you should not hesitate to contact a dedicated St. Petersburg criminal defense lawyer immediately.

Under the statute, if you are designated as a habitual violent felony offender, a violent career criminal, a three time violent felony offender or a prison releasee reoffender, you will be branded as a Florida career criminal for life. Should you receive that designation, the law requires you to register as such in the county of your permanent or temporary residence. A temporary residence is defined as any residence that you spend more than 14 days at within the state. This means that even if you come to Florida on a long vacation, you probably need to register as a career criminal lest you be prosecuted under this law.

The law carries significant penalties for those convicted. If you are convicted of remaining in the State and failing to register as a career criminal, you could be facing penalties for a second degree felony. Second degree felony convictions carry potential penalties of up to 15 years in prison. Even if you choose to leave Florida for greener pastures, you will be required by this law to notify the office of career criminal registration of your intent to leave. If you don’t you can be prosecuted for a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

The skilled St. Petersburg criminal defense lawyers at Hanlon Law have years of experience defending clients in all manner of criminal cases. If you find yourself in need of a lawyer, don’t hesitate to call us for a consultation at 727.289.0222.