§ 29-11A-4 — Registration of sex offenders; information required;

verification; criminal penalty for noncompliance. A. A sex offender residing in this state shall register with the county sheriff for the county in which the sex offender resides. B. A sex offender who is a resident of New Mexico shall initially register with the county sheriff no later than five business days after being released from the custody of the corrections department, a municipal or county jail or a federal, military or tribal correctional facility or detention center or being placed on probation or parole. A sex offender who changes residence to New Mexico shall register with the county sheriff no later than five business days after arrival in this state. When a sex offender initially registers with the county sheriff, the sex offender shall provide the following registration information: (1) the sex offender's legal name and any other names or aliases that the sex offender is using or has used; (2) the sex offender's date of birth; (3) the sex offender's social security number; (4) the sex offender's current physical and mailing address and the address of every place where the sex offender habitually lives; (5) the sex offender's place of employment; (6) the sex offense for which the sex offender was convicted; (7) the date and place of the sex offense conviction; (8) the sex offender's names, email addresses and monikers and other self- identifiers used on social networking sites, to be used only for law enforcement purposes; (9) the sex offender's landline and cellular telephone numbers and any other telephone numbers primarily used by the sex offender; (10) the sex offender's professional licenses; (11) the license plate or other identifier and the description of any vehicle owned or primarily operated by the sex offender, including aircraft and watercraft; (12) the name and address of any school or institution of higher education that the sex offender is attending; and (13) copies of the sex offender's passport and immigration documents. C. A sex offender who is a resident of another state but who is employed in New Mexico or attending public or private school or an institution of higher education in New Mexico shall register with the county sheriff for the county in which the sex offender is working or attending school or an institution of higher education. D. A sex offender who is a resident of another state but who is employed in New Mexico or attending public or private school or an institution of higher education in New Mexico shall register with the county sheriff no later than five business days after beginning work or school. When the sex offender registers with the county sheriff, the sex offender shall provide the following registration information: (1) the sex offender's legal name and any other names or aliases that the sex offender is using or has used; (2) the sex offender's date of birth; (3) the sex offender's social security number; (4) the sex offender's current physical and mailing address in the sex offender's state of residence and, if applicable, the address of the sex offender's place of lodging in New Mexico while working or attending school or an institution of higher education; (5) the sex offender's place of employment or the name of the school the sex offender is attending; (6) the sex offense for which the sex offender was convicted; and (7) the date and place of the sex offense conviction. E. When a sex offender registers with a county sheriff, the sheriff shall obtain: (1) a photograph of the sex offender and a complete set of the sex offender's fingerprints and a palm print; (2) a physical description, including a description of any tattoos, scars or other distinguishing features on the sex offender's body that would assist in identifying the sex offender; and (3) a DNA sample for inclusion in the sex offender DNA identification system pursuant to the provisions of the DNA Identification Act [Chapter 29, Article 16 NMSA 1978]. F. When a sex offender who is registered changes any information required under this section, the sex offender shall send written notice of the change on a form approved by the department to the county sheriff no later than five business days after the change occurs. G. When a sex offender who is registered changes residence to a new county in New Mexico, the sex offender shall register with the county sheriff of the new county no later than five business days after establishing the new residence. The sex offender shall also send written notice of the change in residence to the county sheriff with whom the sex offender last registered no later than five business days after establishing the new residence. H. When a sex offender who is registered or required to register is homeless or does not have an established residence, but lives in a shelter, halfway house or transitional living facility or stays in multiple locations in New Mexico, the sex offender shall register each address or temporary location with the county sheriff for each county in which the sex offender is living or temporarily located. The sex offender shall register no later than five business days after a change in living arrangements or temporary location. I. When a sex offender who is registered or required to register is employed, begins a vocation or is enrolled as a student at an institution of higher education in New Mexico, the sex offender shall disclose the sex offender's status as a sex offender in writing to the county sheriff for the county in which the institution of higher education is located, the law enforcement entity responsible for the institution of higher education and the registrar for the institution of higher education no later than five business days after beginning employment, beginning a vocation or enrolling at the institution of higher education. The sex offender shall also send written notice of any change regarding employment, vocation or enrollment status at an institution of higher education to the county sheriff, the law enforcement entity and the registrar no later than five business days after the change in employment, vocation or enrollment status. J. When a sex offender who is registered or required to register is employed or is enrolled as a student at a public or private school in New Mexico, the sex offender shall disclose the sex offender's status as a sex offender in writing to the county sheriff for the county in which the school is located and to the principal of the school no later than five business days after beginning employment or enrolling at the school. The sex offender shall also send written notice of any change regarding employment or enrollment status at a school to the county sheriff and the principal no later than five business days after the change in employment or enrollment status. K. When a sex offender who is registered or required to register is employed, begins a vocation or volunteers services, regardless of whether the sex offender receives payment or other compensation, the sex offender shall disclose the sex offender's status as a sex offender in writing to the sex offender's employer, supervisor or person similarly situated. The written disclosure shall be made immediately upon beginning employment, vocation or volunteer service. L. Following initial registration pursuant to the provisions of this section: (1) a sex offender required to register pursuant to the provisions of Subsection D of Section 29-11A-5 NMSA 1978 shall verify registration information with the county sheriff as provided in Subsection N of this section not less than once in each ninety-day period following the date of the sex offender's initial registration for the remainder of the sex offender's natural life; (2) a sex offender required to register pursuant to the provisions of Subsection E of Section 29-11A-5 NMSA 1978 shall verify registration information with the county sheriff as provided in Subsection N of this section once every six months for a period of ten years; and (3) an out-of-state registrant shall verify registration information with the county sheriff for whichever is the longer of: (a) the duration of time remaining in the registrant's convicting jurisdiction and at the same frequency as required in that state or territory, but no less than once every six months; or (b) the duration of time remaining that would be required for the equivalent offense in New Mexico. M. Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (2) of Subsection L of this section, if a sex offender is convicted a second or subsequent time for a sex offense set forth in Subsection E of Section 29-11A-5 NMSA 1978, the sex offender shall verify registration information with the county sheriff as provided in Subsection N of this section not less than once in each ninety-day period following the date of the sex offender's initial registration for the remainder of the sex offender's natural life. N. At least fifteen days prior to the time a sex offender is required to verify registration information, the department shall send a verification form to the sex offender, by first class mail, containing the sex offender's current registration information and a notice of the date that the sex offender's next verification is due. The sex offender shall appear in person at a location designated by the department to verify the information contained on the form, to change the information as necessary and to sign a statement under oath that the information is true and correct. The department may photograph the sex offender at that time if the sex offender's appearance is significantly different from the photograph already contained in the sex offender's file. If a sex offender does not receive a verification form before the time that the sex offender is required to verify registration pursuant to Subsection L of this section, the sex offender shall appear at a location designated by the department to verify registration information as required by this section. O. The department shall establish a secure system that will permit a sex offender to notify the department electronically of any change in registration information. P. A sex offender who willfully or knowingly fails to comply with the registration or verification requirements set forth in this section is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978. A sex offender who willfully or knowingly fails to comply with the registration or verification requirements set forth in this section after a first or subsequent conviction for a violation pursuant to this section is guilty of a third degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978. The willful failure to comply with any registration or verification requirement set forth in this section shall be deemed part of a continuing transaction or occurrence. A conviction pursuant to this subsection shall not be considered a felony for purposes of the imposition of sentencing enhancements pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-17 NMSA 1978. Q. A sex offender who willfully or knowingly provides false information when complying with the registration or verification requirements set forth in this section is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978. A sex offender who willfully or knowingly provides false information when complying with the registration or verification requirements set forth in this section after a first or subsequent conviction for a violation pursuant to this section is guilty of a third degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978. The willful providing by a sex offender of false information with respect to the registration or verification requirements set forth in this section shall be deemed part of a continuing transaction or occurrence. A conviction pursuant to this subsection shall not be considered a felony for purposes of the imposition of sentencing enhancements pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-17 NMSA 1978.

Legislative History

Laws 1995, ch. 106, § 4; 1999, ch. 19, § 4; 2000, ch. 8, § 2; 2005, ch. 279, § 2;