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While we strive to be as accurate and complete as possible, our researchers are not attorneys, and state laws are often full of nuances and gaps. Legal challenges in some states have resulted in different registration requirements based on the year of conviction or first registration. Users must accept all risks associated with actions taken based on this information. Please help us improve by reporting any errors or omissions via our form at https://narsol.org/wiki-response/
Maryland Laws Regarding Registration
Who must register?
What information must registrants provide?
How frequently must they register? And for how long?
Maryland has three tiers.Tier I registers annually for 15 years (but can appeal after 10); Tier II registers semi-annually for 25 years; and Tier II registers quarterly for life.
Crim. Proc. 11-707
(NOTE: A retroactivity challenge has allowed many persons who have beenregisteringin Maryland since prior to 2010 to be returned to a shorter time period.)
Those adjudicated as juveniles remain privately registered.
Crim. Proc. 11-704.1
Are there special restrictions for registrants even after supervision?
MD has no residency restrictions. It does restrict registrants from being on school property except to vote. Parents can sometimes get permission to pick up their children. There is some public notification which varies from county to county.
Crim. Proc. 11-704
Is there a process for removal from the registry? If so, who qualifies and what is the process?
Only for those who are Tier I, after 10 years.
Crim. Proc 11-707(c)
What is the registration requirement for someone with a sexual offense who is visiting?
There is no special provision for visiting, other than the “habitually lives” designation included in the requirement to report within 3 days. This is defined as anyplace a person lives, sleeps, or visits regularly, including visits lasting more than 5 hours more than 5 times in a 30-day period.
Crim. Proc 11-707
What is the registration requirement for someone with a sexual offense who will be moving to live or to attend school?
Generally speaking, persons must register within 3 days of coming to “habitually live,” work, or attend school in the state.
Crim Proc. 11-705
State Laws Regarding Sexual Offenses and Offenders, other than registration
What sexual offenses can people be convicted of, and what are the ranges of sentences?
Criminal Law Article under subtitles 3, 5, and 6. See Question 1 in the below FAQs for a full listing.
Maryland Registry FAQs
Does the state have lifetime supervision?
Yes. This is a sentence applied by the courts, and thus there is supposed to be a removal process. We are uncertain if this process has been fully established at this juncture.
Statute still needed.
Does the state have indeterminate sentencing?
It does not.
What are the state civil commitment laws?
Criminal Law 3-303 through 3-602; 27 (murder) w/intent to sexually harm; 11-207 through 11-209 and 11-303 through 11-308; 18 USC 2252B/C, 2423C, 2424, 2425, 1591, and 2423B; and 10 USC 951
Links still needed.
What is the age of consent?
Generally the victim must be under 16 and the perpetrator 4 or more years older. Punishment is tougher if the older person is an authority figure. MD Code, Crim Law § 3-301 - § 3-315. The link below has a table that breaks things down.
PeoplesLaw.org Age of Consent
Are there “Romeo and Juliet” laws or other laws specific to young people?
Maryland has no clear laws regarding this situation, other than what is outlined regarding age of consent (see above).
Info for State Advocates
Are felons allowed to vote? If so, when is this right restored?
On Feb. 9, 2016, the Maryland General Assembly overrode the Governor's veto of SB 340 and restored the vote to all convicted felons immediately upon their release from prison.
https://felonvoting.procon.org/sourcefiles/maryland-senate-bill-340.pdf
https://felonvoting.procon.org/sourcefiles/maryland-felony-voter-registration-2017.pdf
What does the state say about persons who are required to register?
How does the state’s legislative process work?
http://dls.maryland.gov/library/information-services/
http://dls.maryland.gov/pubs/prod/NoPblTabLibResDocs/Legislative-Process.pdf
How can I locate and track legislation regarding sexual offense issues?
Go to http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/ and use the search box to find bills using the keywords below. When you find something you want to track, look for the little thumbtack near the top right, click it, and follow directions to create a tracking account. From then on, click the thumbtack next to its title and add it to your tracking list. Depending on your settings, you’ll get updates at different frequencies.
Best keywords are:
Searches that work well here are “sexual offense” and “sexual offender” and “required to register.”
Sign up for notifications of bill movement:
See tracking above.
Most important legislative committees for our issues are:
Contact info for state legislators can be found at:
Other Useful State Information
Contact information for state registry office
300 East Joppa Road, Suite 1000
Towson, Maryland 21286
(410) 339-5000 (877) 379-8636
RSOL state affiliate website or blog:
Families Advocating Intelligent Registries (FAIR)
https://www.fairregistry.org/
Other helpful state advocacy groups:
Maryland CURE MAJR (MD Alliance for Justice Reform) Links needed.
Other registrant-friendly state support groups:
Response needed.
Link needed.