Louisiana — Registry Rules

• Who: Adults (and some juveniles) with qualifying offenses and certain out-of-state equivalents; see R.S. 15:542(A).
• Initial deadline: Deadline: Appear in person within 3 business days of conviction/release/residence in Louisiana (earlier if specified); see R.S. 15:542(C)(2).
• Verification: Verification: Aggravated offenses quarterly; offenses with a victim under 18 semi-annually; all others annually; homeless every 14 days; see R.S. 15:542.1.1.
• Primary method: Method: In person at the sheriff where you live (and where you work/attend school); campus police if enrolled; see R.S. 15:542(B).
• ⚠️ Report any change (address, employment, school, vehicles, online IDs) within 3 business days; see R.S. 15:542.1.2.
• ⚠️ Temporary lodging 7+ days must be disclosed 3 days before departure; international travel needs 21-day advance notice; see R.S. 15:542(C)(1)(n).
• ⚠️ Proximity/residency bans around schools, parks, etc. apply to many with minor-victim offenses; see R.S. 14:91.2.
• ⚠️ Annual $60 registration fee; failure to pay can be prosecuted; see R.S. 15:542(D) and R.S. 15:542.1.4(A)(3).

Scope: Residents with qualifying sex offenses or crimes against a victim who is a minor, certain juveniles for specified serious offenses, and out-of-state/federal equivalents; register where you live, work, and study; see R.S. 15:542(A)–(B).

Duration: Registration continues for 15 years from the date of initial Louisiana registration, may be reduced to 10 years upon petition with a clean record, or may be imposed for life when classified as aggravated, sexually violent predator, or certain child-victim offenses under R.S. 15:544.

• Initial: Appear in person and provide required data within 3 business days (or at sentencing / 10 days pre-release if incarcerated); see R.S. 15:542(C)(2).
• Changes: Update address, employment, school, phone numbers, vehicles, and online identifiers (before use) within 3 business days; see R.S. 15:542.1.2 and R.S. 15:542(C)(1)(j),(m).
• Travel: Disclose temporary lodging 7+ days at least 3 days before departure; disclose all international travel 21 days in advance; see R.S. 15:542(C)(1)(n).
• Community notice: Mail/radius and publication within 21 days after conviction/release/residency; repeat every 5 years; see R.S. 15:542.1(A)(2).

• Frequency: Quarterly (aggravated), semi-annual (minor-victim), annual (others); homeless every 14 days; see R.S. 15:542.1.1(A).
• Where: Sheriff of parish of residence; also where you work and attend school; campus police if enrolled; see R.S. 15:542(B).

Presence/Residency: For many with minor-victim or aggravated offenses, being in or within 1,000 feet of schools, early learning centers, parks, pools, libraries, etc., and residing within 1,000 feet is criminally restricted; see R.S. 14:91.2 and R.S. 14:91.1.

• Employment/School: Register also in each parish of employment and school; campus police 1 business day before term; see R.S. 15:542(B)(2)–(3).
• Internet: Provide every email/online ID (and any static IP) before use; see R.S. 15:542(C)(1)(m).
• Social networking disclosure: If using social-networking sites (not otherwise banned), profile must disclose status and info; see R.S. 15:542.1(D).

• Statewide public search: Louisiana State Police host the State Sex Offender & Child Predator Registry; see LSP Registry.
• Community notification: Radius mailings and newspaper publication (urban 0.3 miles; rural 1 mile), every 5 years; see R.S. 15:542.1(A)(2).

• Moving to LA: Out-of-state convictions must register within 3 business days of establishing residence; see R.S. 15:542(C)(2).
• Leaving LA or working/school in another parish/state: Maintain Louisiana duties and register where employed or attending school; see R.S. 15:542(B)(2).
• International travel: Provide itinerary/documents 21 days in advance; see R.S. 15:542(C)(1)(n)(ii).

• Short visits: If you plan temporary lodging 7+ days in Louisiana, disclose at least 3 days before departure; see R.S. 15:542(C)(1)(n)(i).
• Work/school while visiting: Register in the parish(es) of employment or school even if not a resident; see R.S. 15:542(B)(2).

Penalties: Failure to register/renew/update/notify is a felony: first offense up to $1,000 and 2–10 years hard labor, no benefits; subsequent $3,000 and 5–20 years hard labor, no benefits; separate misdemeanor for failure to pay annual fee; see R.S. 15:542.1.4(A).

• Standard duration: 15 years from initial LA registration; may petition to reduce to 10 years with a clean record; DA may seek lifetime; see R.S. 15:544(A),(E),(F).
• Specific offense relief: Courts may waive for certain historical carnal knowledge convictions and for crime against nature by solicitation; see R.S. 15:542(F)(2)–(4).
• Juveniles: Registration required only for listed serious offenses; juveniles are exempt from most public notification; see R.S. 15:542(A)(2)–(3) and R.S. 15:542.1(C).

• Homeless/No fixed residence: In-person renewal every 14 days; see R.S. 15:542.1.1(A)(4).
• Students: Must register with campus police at least 1 business day before term; see R.S. 15:542(B)(3).
• Sexually violent predators: Additional presence restrictions; see R.S. 14:91.1.

• Annual $60 registration fee (due at initial and each anniversary; indigency rules may apply); see R.S. 15:542(D).
• Community notification costs (mailings/publication are not at state expense); see R.S. 15:542.1(A)(2).
• OMV credential fees/renewals for driver’s license/ID (branding statutes noted below; see litigation); see R.S. 32:412(I) and R.S. 40:1321(J).

• Case: State v. Hill — Louisiana Supreme Court (2020-10-20) — Requirement that registrants carry ID branded 'SEX OFFENDER' under R.S. 40:1321(J) (and related penalty in R.S. 15:542.1.4(C)) violated the First Amendment; branding mandate struck down. link