Failure to Register as a Sexual Predator in Miami

Dennis Gonzalez Jr. is a former Miami-Dade prosecutor who has been defending people since 2012. Everything you tell us is confidential. Our office answers 24 hours a day.

Who Is a Sexual Predator

A sexual predator is a person a Florida court has designated as one in a written order, where the order has not been set aside and the person has not been pardoned for the qualifying offense. Designation generally follows a conviction for certain first-degree or higher sex felonies, a second qualifying sex felony, or civil commitment as a sexually violent predator (section 775.21). Since July 1, 2024, certain sex-trafficking offenses against minors also qualify on a first offense, and since October 1, 2025, so does capital human trafficking of a child under 12, or of a person who is mentally defective or mentally incapacitated, for sexual exploitation. Registration lasts for life unless the conviction is pardoned or set aside, apart from a narrow close-in-age removal.

What the State Must Prove (Instruction 11.15)

Each version requires that you are a sexual predator (or agreed to that status), in most versions that you had a residence in a Florida county, and that you knowingly failed to meet one duty:

• 11.15: registering with the Department of Corrections while in its custody or under its supervision (within 3 business days, if supervised but not incarcerated).
• 11.15(a): registering in person with the sheriff within 48 hours after establishing a residence or being designated.
• 11.15(b): providing required information; reporting vehicle changes.
• 11.15(c): details of a vehicle, mobile home, or boat you live in.
• 11.15(d): college enrollment, work, or volunteering, and changes.
• 11.15(e): a driver license office visit within 48 hours after registering.
• 11.15(f): other information the Florida Department of Law Enforcement requires.
• 11.15(g): a change of residence or name, an in-state travel residence, or leaving a residence without a new one, within 48 hours.
• 11.15(h): answering address-verification mail within three weeks; giving no false information.
• 11.15(i): a move out of state (48 hours ahead) or travel abroad (21 days ahead, or as soon as possible).
• 11.15(j): staying after announcing a move or trip.
• 11.15(k): reregistering in your birthday month and every third month after.
• 11.15(m): reporting every 30 days with a transient residence.
• 11.15(n): a change in vehicles owned, within 48 hours.

Every version includes a defense if you tried to comply but the responsible agency misinformed you or prevented you from complying.

Penalties

• Most violations are third-degree felonies: up to 5 years and a $5,000 fine. Each failure is a separate offense.
• Staying at a residence, or in Florida, after reporting that you would leave, without reporting back within 48 hours, is a second-degree felony (up to 15 years).
• For felony violations on or after July 1, 2018, if the court does not impose prison, it must impose community control with electronic monitoring: at least 6 months, 1 year, or 2 years for a first, second, or third offense.
• A predator with certain offenses against minors who works or volunteers where children regularly congregate commits a separate third-degree felony.
• A person required to register under federal law who travels between states or abroad and knowingly fails to register or update a registration can also face a federal charge (18 U.S.C. § 2250), with up to 10 years.

How We Defend These Cases

• "Knowingly." The deadlines and residence definitions are technical.
• The designation. Was there a written court order? Was it set aside?
• Agency error and proof of compliance. Records from the sheriff, the driver license office, FDLE, or the Department of Corrections.

What to Do First

1. Register or update right away. An arrest or charge counts as notice of the duty, and not registering immediately can bring a new charge.
2. Don't explain yourself to deputies. Ask for a lawyer.
3. Keep every receipt, letter, and screenshot.
4. Call us. See Bond & Nebbia Hearings and Probation Violations.

Why Choose Dennis Gonzalez Law, P.A.

• Former Miami-Dade prosecutor.
• Defending people since 2012.
• Super Lawyers recognition and an Avvo Rating of 10.0.
• Bilingual office — se habla español.
• We answer 24 hours a day. Call (305) 209-0384.

See our Results page, Sex Crimes Defense and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a sexual offender and a sexual predator?

A predator is designated by court order and has stricter duties, such as quarterly reregistration. Sexual offenders register under a different statute.

Can I get off the predator registry?

Generally only if the conviction is pardoned or set aside. A narrow exception lets some people convicted of certain offenses with a teenager close in age ask a court to remove the requirement (section 943.04354).