Louisiana sex offender laws may not be the strictest in the US, but they do come with a whole package of restrictions and consequences. Similar to other US states, the Bayou State categorizes sex offenders by the severity of their crimes, though most of the consequences of a sex crime conviction extend far beyond the sentence.
For instance, Louisiana demands sex offenders and child predators state their criminal status on their Facebook and other social networking pages, and also limits them from using public libraries. Scroll down for the details on what sex offenders in Louisiana can and cannot do, including registration requirements, and related restrictions.
*This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to serve as legal advice. Please consult an attorney if you need to obtain legal advice.
Louisiana Sex Offender Registration Laws
Louisiana has the highest imprisonment rate of 680 convicts per 100,000 people. Moreover, data indicate that of the total 11,749, 289 sexual offenders in Louisiana are incarcerated.
Now, as far as the Louisiana sex offender law goes, it was first enacted in 1992 and imposed mandatory registration of persons convicted of sex offenses and offenses against victims who are minors. In 1994, Congress enacted the Wetterling Act, and then in 1997, similar to sex offender laws in Arkansas, it enacted Megan’s Law.
Finally, in 2006 the Adam Walsh Act was enacted by which the Bureau is charged with maintaining a central registry of sex offenders and participating in the National Sex Offender Registry. Moreover, in accordance with the Louisiana sex offender statute, RS 15:542–§542, registration is mandatory for offenders who have either been convicted of, pled guilty to, or received a deferred or withheld adjudication for the following:
- Rape and aggravated rape
- Sexual battery
- Aggravated kidnapping of a minor
- Molestation
- Felony carnal knowledge
- Child trafficking
- Prostitution of minors, solicitation, and inciting prostitution when the prostitution involves persons under 18 years of age
- Crime against nature
- Incest
- Voyeurism and video voyeurism
Moreover, LA sex offender laws related to registration are strict, and demand disclosure of the following information:
- Name and any aliases
- Physical address or addresses of residence and two forms of proof for each address
- Place of employment, education, or training
- All information related to the crime for which the person was convicted
- A current photograph
- Fingerprints, palm prints, and a DNA sample.
- Telephone numbers, including fixed location phone and mobile phone numbers
- A description of all vehicles used by the offender, including license plate and vehicle ID number
- Sex offender’s driver’s license in Louisiana and identification cards
- Social security number and date of birth
- A detailed description of the offender, and any identifying marks
- E-mail address, online screen name, or other online identifiers used by the offender to communicate on the internet. Including static internet protocol address, if used
- Temporary lodging information regarding any place where the offender plans to stay for seven or more days. The same applies to international travel.
- Travel and immigration documents
Similar to California’s sex offender registry laws, Louisiana uses a three-tier system whereby the registration period of the offender depends on the seriousness of the crime.
Tier 1 Sex Offender in Louisiana
According to the Louisiana sex offender statute, any person convicted of committing or attempting to commit sex offenses such as stalking a minor, sexual battery, intentional exposure to AIDS, felony carnal knowledge, indecent behavior with juveniles, prohibited sexual conduct between educator and student, crimes against nature, incest, voyeurism and other offenses which are not categorized as aggravated offenses or sexual offenses against a victim who is a minor, will have a 15-year registration period conducted annually.
Tier 2 Sex Offender in Louisiana
Persons who have been convicted of committing or attempting to commit offenses defined as a “sexual offense against a victim who is a minor” including but not limited to oral sexual battery, aggravated incest, molestation, computer-aided solicitation of a minor, prostitution, and enticing of a minor into prostitution will be subjected to a 25 year registration period conducted semi-annually.
Tier 3 Sex Offender in Louisiana
Tier 3 sex offenses in Louisiana have all aggravated offenses such as simple, first, second, and third-degree rape, kidnapping of a minor, human and child trafficking, sexual battery of a child under 13, second-degree battery, and related.
All of these offenses involve aggravation and violence against minors, which is why in accordance with sex offender laws in Louisiana, these individuals will have a lifetime registration period conducted quarterly.
Note that the above-mentioned crimes involve only the most common sex crimes in Louisiana. Other crimes of the same nature not mentioned here may also result in Louisiana sex offenders’ registration.
Finally, in accordance with the law, and unless an earlier time frame is specified or immediately taken into custody, sexual offenders in Louisiana are required to register:
- within three business days of moving to Louisiana
- within three business days of release from prison
- within three business days of changing their address
Louisiana Sex Offender Notification Requirements
Initial community notification in Louisiana is mandatory and must be provided within twenty-one days of the date the offender was convicted if they were not taken into custody at the time they were convicted and within twenty-one days of release from confinement or conviction or of establishing residency.
The offender will have to give notice of the crime they were convicted of, a name, photo, residential address, and a full physical description of their physical characteristics to the following:
- At least one individual in every residence or business within a three-tenths of a mile radius in the urban or suburban area of the address of the offender, or if they live in a rural area, within a one-mile radius. And this includes any adults residing in their residence.
- The superintendent of the school district where the offender resides
- The lessor, landlord, or owner of the residence or property
- Those in charge of any park, playground, or recreation district within the designated area of the offender’s residential address
In addition, Louisiana sex offender laws require the notice to be made public on two separate days without any cost to the state, or to the official journal of the parish or country where the offender plans to reside.
Also, if the sheriff or police department deems it necessary, the notice provided in the local newspaper or official journal shall also include a recent photo of the defendant. Or in some instances, they might be required to post a notice about their status on a public board or in a school. Additional requirements may also be assigned depending on the circumstances. Note that there are some exceptions to the above-mentioned restrictions.
Finally, LA sex offender laws related to notices, also say that if the offender provides any form of recreational instructions to persons under seventeen, they will be required to post a notice in the building where this is happening. And last but not least, in some instances, the appropriate court may deem it necessary for the offender to wear a handbill, a bumper sticker, or any other form of labeling that shows that he is a sex offender.
Failure to Meet Louisiana Sex Offender Notification Requirements
If a sex offender or child predator does not register with the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) on time or fails to notify the authorities of their crimes may face a fine of over $1,000 and imprisonment with hard labor for approximately 2 to 10 years without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. For second or subsequent convictions of failure to notify, in accordance with Louisiana sex offender laws, the defendant will be fined $3,000 and imprisoned with hard labor for five years to twenty years.
If the offender fails to pay the annual registration fee of $60, they may be fined either or both a $500 fee or imprisoned for up to six months. If this happens for a second time or more, the offender shall be punished as if they’ve failed to register.
Louisiana Sex Offender Housing Restrictions
The proponents of LA sex offender laws are meant to keep the residents safe and stop such crimes from happening in the future. This is why there are additional housing restrictions. For instance, sexual offenders in Louisiana must not live within 1,000 feet of a school or any other place where children congregate if their victim is under the age of 13. Also, they cannot establish any residence within 1000 feet of any school, park, or recreational facility. Finally, if deemed necessary, the supervising officer may impose travel restrictions, frequent check-ins with the authorities, or any additional restrictions.
Employment Restrictions For Sexual Offenders in Louisiana
Sex offender laws in Louisiana ban these individuals from working at any place where children congregate or are in close proximity. Specifically, a sex offender cannot be within 1000 feet of any public park or recreational facility. Moreover, sex offenders in Louisiana cannot be employed as:
- Bus, taxicab, or limo drivers
- Service providers whereby the job requires them to go or enter people’s homes
- Carnival or any other amusement park employees, and this specifically goes for offenders who’ve committed a sex offense against minors
- Door-to-door salespersons
Other restrictions which are not related to employment but do affect sex offenders involve the use of a public library, participation in Halloween or other public holidays by distributing candy, and wearing of hoods or masks in public spaces.
Louisiana Sex Offender Laws FAQ
What are sex offenders not allowed to do in Louisiana?
Sex offenders in Louisiana cannot establish a residence or be physically present within 1000 ft of any public or private elementary or secondary school or child care facility, public park or recreational facility, cannot enter public libraries, and cannot work as bus or taxi drivers or wear masks or hoods in public spaces.
Can Louisiana sex offenders have Facebook?
No, any person who has committed a sex crime under the Louisiana sex offender statute is restricted from using social media sites or any peer-to-peer websites.
Can a tier 3 sex offender get off the registry in Louisiana?
A tier 3 sex offender in Louisiana cannot be removed from the registry and will remain listed for the rest of their lives, regardless of whether they live in Louisiana or move to another state.
Can you be removed from the sex offender registry in Louisiana?
Yes, if you are a tier 1 or tier 2 sex offender, in accordance with LA sex offender laws, once your registration period has ended, you will be removed from the registry.
How long do you have to register as a sex offender in Louisiana?
Louisiana classifies sex offenders into three tiers. If you are a tier 1, you must be on the registry for 15 years. For tier 2 offenders, the registration period is 25 years. A tier 3 sex offender in Louisiana must be submitted for lifetime registration.
