No. this registry is forever. They may tell you different, but it is permanent.

NO and it SHOULD NOT!!

I can't answer for all states, but I can offer you a little knowledge that will probably cover most states. When you are convicted of a sex crime, you are also given a time on the registry. If your crime is of a certain nature (for example with a weapon, against a child, violent, etc.), you will likely be a life-time registrant. However, many sex crimes are given a set time on the registry, typically 10 years (obviously for lesser offenses, such as an 18 year old guy having sex with his 17 year old girlfriend that was charged with something like statuatory rape). At that point, they will typically get a letter from law enforcement/government agency of some type (I can't recall for sure which) that says "You are due to be removed from the registry. We will get to it when we get to it, don't call us, we'll be in touch." It can take a long time (a year, two years, maybe more) for them to "get around to it," as it's not a real priority for them (plus I think they go slow on purpose, to keep them registered longer). At some point, they will be notified that they no longer have to register. Keep in mind that this does not mean that they just forget who you are - just that you are no longer on the internet or in the paper or on posters (whatever notification method your town uses) when you move or change jobs. And if you are ever convicted of another offense (such as not notifying police of a change of address), a parole officer can add time to your registration time (as much as he or she wants - typically another 10 years). Anyway, hope that helps.

The laws that govern registration do not go back as far as 1986. I was told by the Department of Corrections for the State of Florida, when I asked how far back a conviction had to be in order for a sex offender to be required to register that if they had committed a sexual offense in 1986 that person is not required to register, provided it was their first and only conviction. So, if what I was told is the truth, persons convicted of sex offenses back in 1986 who never committed any type of crime before or after that year, are not required to register in any sexual offender data base. I think that should change and I hope it changes sooner rather than later. It would be a bad idea (IMO) to allow a sexual offender that kind of freedom and anonymity. Everybody convicted of any type of sexual offense regardless of the circumstances involved should have to register. I'd rather not find out after-the-fact that some creep was not required to register and was living in my neighborhood or working at some establishment where I and/or my family like to go.