Legal Question in Criminal Law in Tennessee

If a person who was convicted of a sex offense several years ago in another state (Other than TN) had been removed from the registration requirements by a judge from that state, would the State of TN require them to re-register if they were to visit TN based on the conviction alone? Note that the person no longer has to register in the state he was convict in several years ago.


Asked on 7/29/17, 6:13 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

The answer depends on whether or not the person would have to register in Tennessee if they had committed exactly the same offense in Tennessee, regardless of what the other state calls the offense or whether or not the other state requires the person to register.

For example, in another state an offense might be subject to a ten year registration requirement, the ten years have elapsed, and the person was removed from the registry in the other state. BUT, if that person had been convicted of the same offense in Tennessee, Tennessee would require a lifetime registration requirement. Then the person is under a lifetime registration requirement as a sex offender if they come into Tennessee.

And the reverse is equally true. If another state requires a person to register as a sex offender for an offense, (but Tennessee does not require registration for such an offense*), and that person comes into Tennessee, they must register as a sex offender in Tennessee.

*In the extreme case, a person can be required to register in Tennessee upon being convicted of an offense committed in another state that wouldn't even be a crime if the same acts were committed in Tennessee.

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Answered on 7/31/17, 7:44 am


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