This RSA section is an unofficial mirror, is not legal advice, and may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed.

RSA 651-B:9 · Penalty

651-B:9 Penalty. –

Copy link
I.

A sexual offender or offender against children who is required to register under this chapter and who negligently fails to comply with the requirements of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Copy link
II.

A sexual offender or offender against children who is required to register under this chapter and who knowingly fails to comply with the requirements of this chapter shall be guilty of a class B felony. An offender who is required to register for a period of 10 years following his or her release, pursuant to RSA 651-B:6, II, shall be required to register for an additional 10 years from the date of conviction for violating this paragraph. The obligation to register for an additional 10 years from the date of conviction for violating this paragraph shall be consecutive to the registration period imposed pursuant to RSA 651-B:6 and shall be imposed even if the original registration period has elapsed.

Copy link
III.

A sexual offender or offender against children previously convicted pursuant to paragraph II who is required to register under this chapter and who knowingly fails to comply with the requirements of this chapter shall be guilty of a class A felony. An offender who is required to register for a period of 10 years following his or her release, pursuant to RSA 651-B:6, II, who is convicted for violating this paragraph shall be required to register for life.

Copy link
IV.

The penalties imposed under paragraphs I-III shall not apply to juveniles required to register pursuant to RSA 651-B:1, XI(a)(3) or (4). The court with jurisdiction over such juveniles may impose an appropriate disposition for a violation of this section.

Copy link
V.

Any person who violates the provisions of RSA 651-B:7 shall be guilty of a violation.

Copy link
VI.

A sexual offender or offender against children who knowingly provides false information in response to any of the requirements of this chapter shall be guilty of a class B felony.

Copy link
VII.

A person is guilty of a class B felony if the person has reason to believe that a sexual offender or offender against children is not complying, or has not complied, with the requirements of this chapter and who purposely assists the offender in eluding any law enforcement agency that is seeking to find the offender to question the offender about, or to arrest the offender for, his or her noncompliance with the requirements of this chapter, and engages in any of the following acts or omissions:

Copy link
(a)

Withholds information from, or does not notify, the law enforcement agency about the offender's noncompliance with the requirements of this chapter, and, if known, the whereabouts of the offender;

Copy link
(b)

Harbors, or attempts to harbor, or assists another person in harboring or attempting to harbor, the offender;

Copy link
(c)

Conceals or attempts to conceal, or assists another person in concealing or attempting to conceal, the offender;

Copy link
(d)

Provides information to the law enforcement agency regarding the offender which the person knows to be false information; or

Copy link
(e)

Warns the offender that the law enforcement agency is attempting to locate the offender.

Copy link
VIII.

(a) Except as provided in subparagraph (b), any sexual offender or offender against children who is required to register under this chapter who is convicted of aggravated felonious sexual assault pursuant to RSA 632-A:2, or felonious sexual assault pursuant to RSA 632-A:3, or sexual assault pursuant to RSA 632-A:4, and who initiates contact with the victim of the offense at any time shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. In this paragraph, "contact" means any action to communicate with the victim either directly or indirectly, including, but not limited to, using any form of electronic communication, leaving items, or causing another to communicate in such fashion.

Copy link
(b)

Subparagraph (a) shall not apply to contact between a sexual offender or an offender against children and a victim where there is an ongoing relationship between the victim and the offender that existed prior to the commission of the offense and that necessitates contact between them, such as the shared custody of a child or an emergency involving a shared sibling or parent, provided that any contact by the offender shall be strictly limited to the immediate issue that needs to be communicated. Source. 1996, 293:1. 2000, 177:4. 2005, 214:96. 2006, 327:12. 2008, 334:5. 2010, 75:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.

Copy link

Source note

Source. 1996, 293:1. 2000, 177:4. 2005, 214:96. 2006, 327:12. 2008, 334:5. 2010, 75:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.

Source history

  • 1996, 293:1
  • 2000, 177:4
  • 2005, 214:96
  • 2006, 327:12
  • 2008, 334:5
  • 2010, 75:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1239 reference · effective 2027-01-01

    serting after paragraph I the following new paragraph: I-a. A person commits a violation if he or she, while being required to register as a tier II or tier III offender under RSA 651-B as a result of a sexual offense against a child under 13 years of age, knowingly appears within 1,000 feet of any of the following places under circumstances that warrant alarm for the safety of persons in the vicinity:

  • 2026 HB1239-FN reference · effective 2027-01-01

    serting after paragraph I the following new paragraph: I-a. A person commits a violation if he or she, while being required to register as a tier II or tier III offender under RSA 651-B as a result of a sexual offense against a child under 13 years of age, knowingly appears within 1,000 feet of any of the following places under circumstances that warrant alarm for the safety of persons in the vicinity:

  • 2026 HB1302 reference

    es as part of a valid law enforcement function. Nothing in this section shall affect the collection, use, or dissemination of photographs of convicted, registered offenders under RSA 651-B. 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage. HELPFUL LINKS Redistricting Information Ethics Committee Statutory/Study Committees Voting Records Past Member Legislation Driving Directions

  • 2026 SB460 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    purpose. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Registration of Criminal Offenders; Child Safety Zones. Amend RSA 651-B by inserting after section 12 the following new section: 651-B:13 Child Safety Zones; Prohibited Presence. I. No person who is required to register as a tier III offender under this chapter, as a result of an offens

  • 2026 SB460-FN amend · effective 2027-01-01

    purpose. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Registration of Criminal Offenders; Child Safety Zones. Amend RSA 651-B by inserting after section 12 the following new section: 651-B:13 Child Safety Zones; Prohibited Presence. I. No person who is required to register as a tier III offender under this chapter, as a result of an offens

Opinions and discipline decisions mentioning this RSA