Canada has a criminal code with a wide definition of sexual assault to fight against the rapid sexual offence. The code reduces explicit sexual acts conducted in an unanticipated manner. So understanding the sex offenders registry in Canada will help you keep yourself aware of any unwanted incidents.
Do you know that Canada has NSOR (National Sex Offender Registry) to record the annual reports of any criminal accused of sexual assault? The registry can help the state reduce the possibility of sexual assault. But what is a sexual offence, and how the sex offender registry in Canada works?
We will give the most basic explanation of each subject in this blog! So, without any delay, let’s get started with the definitions!
Understanding the Sex Offender Registry
The sex offender registry has a vast amount of information. It also has a history. We must crawl through line by line to understand the national sex offender registry in Canada in the first place.
What is a Sex Offender?
A sex offender is an accused person who commits sexual crimes against anyone. For example, Rape, molestation, child pornography, sex trafficking, etc are considered sex offences. Persons involved with these crimes are sex offenders.
What is a Sex Offender Registry?
The national sex offender registry Canada is a tracking system in which police keep the activities of sex offenders. The registry has a program to update the information each year. Even the registry keeps taking the criminal after finishing their sentence.
How Does the National Sex Registry in Canada Work?
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) manages the database of the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR). Law enforcement agencies can access the database to get notified about recently convicted persons.
Primarily police track the identity and location of the sex offender in case of any urgency. For example, the RCMP noticed a violent child sex offender was trying to cross the Dominican Republic border in 2019. They informed Dominic Police about that matter
Guess the result? The country denied the person to cross airports. Because he was travelling to Sosua Bay, a place for children tourists.
What are Sex Offenders Not Allowed to Do?
The criminal code in Canada listed some “not to do” behaviour for easy understanding of the sex offender registry. Here are some of the activities considered violent sex offences.
- Sexual offences against children
- Arrangement of sexual offence against a child
- Aggravated sexual assault
- Sexual assault with a weapon causing bodily harm
- Aggravated sexual assault with firearms
- Aggravated sexual assault with a restricted firearm
- Hardcore sexual interference
- Signalling to sexual touching
- Sexual exploitation of a person with a disability
- Child pornography
- Exploring child pornography
- Guardians procuring sexual activity
- Influencing children with sexually explicit materials
- Removal of a child from Canada
- Trafficking a under eighteen person
- Benefitting from sexual services by under eighteen person
- Destroying documents related to under eighteen person
- Procuring sexual services from an under eighteen person
- Compelling the commission of bestiality
- Bestiality in front of a child
- Incest relationships
Accessing the Sex Offender Registry
There is certain information found on the NSOR database. Some of the information is for police and other law enforcement agency, while some are for other agencies.
What are the Information Needed for NSOR Database?
Sex offenders registry systems in Canada need some special paper submissions. Those papers contain the basic details of sex offenders.
- Name of the offender
- Birthdate and year of the offender
- Present and recent address
- A present and recent mugshot
- Identification of birthmarks/tattoos
- Vehicle registration number
- Employment details with address
- The crime report they convicted
- Passport and driver’s license
What Information Can NEOR Share with Other Agencies?
The NSOR could share the following information with Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA).
- The name and another alias
- Date of birth and gender
- Driving license and passports
Reporting the Sex Offender Registry
The offenders who served the Sex Offender Information Registration Act must report to the registration center in seven days.
First-Time Sex Offenders Registry Report in Canada
When the report is recorded for the first time, they have to go to the centre if they are,
- Convicted of a designated sex offence
- Freed from the custody
- Freed from custody pending the outcome of an appeal
Annual Sex Offenders Registry Report in Canada
The offender must update their report to the center, including the following information.
- Name and every alias
- Date of birth, gender
- Passport and driving license number
- Address of residence and employers
- Academic information
- Physical description of height, weight, and marks
How to Get Off the Sex Offender Registry in Canada?
How to get off the sex offender registry in Canada? One wrong step cannot mark you for your entire life, right? That’s why there has been an option to remove the sex offender registry information from the database.
The convicted sex offenders can apply for termination after completing certain period.
- Five years after issuing a ten years order.
- Ten years after issuing a twenty years order.
- Twenty years after issuing a lifetime order.
Understanding the sex offender registry in Canada is a much more broader process. However, we hope you have received enough concept of the system. If you think the assault happened with the consent of both parties, then you can contact a criminal defence lawyer to fight your case to beat the false sexual assault charge.
FAQs
Are there any limitations to the registry’s effectiveness?
Yes, there are limitations to the effectiveness of the Sex Offender Registry. For example, the registry only includes individuals who have been convicted of a sexual offence in Canada, so it does not include individuals who may pose a risk but have not been caught or convicted. Additionally, offenders who are determined to be low-risk may not be subject to the same level of monitoring as high-risk offenders.
What measures are in place to protect the privacy of offenders?
The Sex Offender Information Registration Act (SOIRA) includes provisions to protect the privacy of offenders on the registry. For example, information on the registry can only be used for law enforcement purposes and cannot be disclosed to the public or used for employment or housing decisions.
Can offenders on the registry travel outside of Canada?
Yes, offenders on the registry can travel outside of Canada, but they are required to notify authorities before they leave and provide information on their travel plans and destination.
What support is available for victims of sexual violence?
There are many resources available for victims of sexual violence, including crisis hotlines, counselling services, and victim support programs. The Canadian government also provides funding for organizations that offer support and services to victims of sexual violence.
How can members of the public report suspicious activity related to sex offenders?
If you have information about a sex offender who you believe is not following their registration requirements or is engaging in suspicious activity, you can contact your local police department or the National Sex Offender Registry. You can also submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.
Is there a way to check if someone is on the registry?
No, members of the public do not have access to the Sex Offender Registry. However, if you have concerns about someone’s beaviour or activities, you can report your suspicions to law enforcement.