Understanding ARS Sex Offender Registration: ARS 13-3821

Arizona law has specifically designated a number of crimes, primarily sex crimes, as offenses that trigger mandatory registration requirements. These registration obligations are extensive and carry significant legal consequences for non-compliance. The following categories of crimes require registration under Arizona law:

• Sexual offenses — including sexual assault, sexual conduct with a minor, and other Arizona sex crimes
• Offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children — possession, distribution, or production of child pornography and related crimes
• Unlawful imprisonment of a minor — victim under 18 years of age
• Kidnapping of a minor — victim under 18 years of age

Registration Requirements

If you are convicted of a crime that triggers registration requirements under ARS 13 3821, you must comply with all the following registration obligations:

Initial Registration Process

1. Financial Assessment Payment: You must pay an assessment fee of $250 to the county treasurer in the jurisdiction where you’re registering. 
2. Timely Reporting to Law Enforcement: Report to the sheriff’s office where you live for initial registration within 10 days following a conviction for a qualifying offense. If you have a prior conviction that requires registration and you move to Arizona or to a different county within the state, you must report to the sheriff’s office in your new county and register within 3 days. These deadlines are strict and missing them can result in additional criminal charges.
3. Biometric Data Collection: You must allow the sheriff’s office to collect identifying information, including:

• A full set of fingerprints
• Current photographs of yourself
• A DNA sample for inclusion in law enforcement databases

This biometric data becomes part of your permanent registration record and helps law enforcement agencies verify your identity and track compliance with registration requirements.

Information Disclosure Requirements

4. Personal Information: You must provide detailed personal information to the sheriff’s office, including:

• Identity Information: All names by which you are known, including legal names, aliases, nicknames, and any other identifying names you use 
• Digital Presence: All online identifiers, including usernames, email addresses, and social media handles 
• Internet Activity: The names of websites or internet services where your identifiers are used (e.g., social media, dating, or gaming platforms) 
• Vehicle Information: Complete details if you own or operate any registered motor vehicle, including make, model, year, color, vehicle identification number (VIN), state of registration, and license plate number 
• Child Custody Information: Full name and current enrollment status of each school-enrolled child in your legal custody 
• Residence Details: Complete information about your residence, including the exact physical location, full address, and whether the residence is permanent or temporary

Ongoing Compliance Requirements

5. State Identification Requirements: You must obtain and maintain a current identification card or driver’s license from the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, valid for one year, ensuring your address and photograph are updated annually. The Motor Vehicle Division automatically refreshes this information each year and provides daily address updates to the Arizona Department of Public Safety and other law enforcement agencies.
6. Annual Registration Updates: Each year, during your birth month, you must report to the sheriff’s office to confirm or update all previously provided information. This includes your current address, employment status, vehicle details, and any other changes to your circumstances. 

Statute of Limitations for Failure to Register in Arizona

In Arizona, failure to register as a sex offender carries a seven-year statute of limitations. This means prosecutors must file charges within seven years of the alleged offense unless specific legal provisions extend that deadline.