If you’ve been charged with a sex crime of any type, you need to have strong legal representation on your side to increase the chances of getting the best possible outcome for your case. A sex crime conviction usually comes with multiple consequences that can completely turn a person’s life upside down.
Man choking young woman indoors. Stop sexual assault
There’s also the stigma attached to being convicted for a sex crime which can ruin any person’s future and will follow you for the rest of your life. As the rate of sex crimes in Los Angeles on the rise, it’s important to understand what kind of consequences you’ll face once you get convicted.
In this article, we’ll talk about what kind of consequences you’ll face when you’re convicted of a sex crime.
- Incarceration
There are no such things as a minor sex crime. If you’re convicted of a sex crime of any kind, you can expect severe punishment.
To make it worse, the majority of the sex offense convictions come with severe punishments that seem to be too unfair. Even a charge based on a romantic encounter between two consenting teens can lead to a jail sentence and a lifetime registration as a sexual offender.
If you’re convicted for touching a child in a sexual manner, you can be incarcerated for over a decade. For sex crimes that involve sexual intercourse with minors or acts involving force, you can expect at least 25 years of imprisonment depending upon state law. If you’re charged with multiple sexual offenses or multiple counts of a sex crime, you can be incarcerated for the rest of your life.
- Lifetime Registration as A Sexual Offender
Another serious consequence of being convicted of a sex crime is being labeled as a sex offender for the rest of your life. Once you’ve been labeled as a sex offender, this will be made public for everyone to see and which can never be removed. You’ll also be legally required to report your whereabouts to authorities for the rest of your life.
Being labeled as a sex offender can also limit your ability to find employment and housing. Aside from that, the branding will also identify you as a threat to children and adults which may cause immense harm to you and your family. Unlike other crimes where you have the opportunity to start over after doing some time in prison, your branding as a sexual offender will stay with you for the rest of your life.
- Employment Restrictions
A hairy man’s hand holding a woman hand for rape and sexual abuse concept
After being convicted of a sex crime, you may also find it hard to apply for certain jobs under state law. Most employers choose to hire an employee that doesn’t have any kind of criminal charges against them. So, if they find out that you’re a registered sexual offender after a criminal background charge, they’re not going to hire you.
Besides, your professional license may also be suspended or revoked, which makes it even harder for you to make a living out of your chosen career.
- Housing Challenges
A sex crime conviction can also make it very difficult for you to find a house or an apartment. Depending on the state law, you may also have restrictions on where you’re allowed to live. In some states, a registered sexual offender isn’t allowed to live near a park, a school, or a daycare.
Aside from that, no more than five registered sexual offenders are allowed to live in a group at any one time. So, if you’re trying to live in a rehabilitation facility, you may face some limitations.
- Loss of Custody
If you’re single or divorced and have custody rights over your children, those can be taken away from you after being convicted of a sex crime. As a result, the other parent may be granted sole custody of your children and secure protection or a restraining order from the court, so you’ll no longer be able to come near to your children again.
- Ruined Relationships
A sex crime conviction can also lead to ruined relationships. Aside from that, you may find it hard to develop healthy and meaningful relationships with a romantic partner, friends, colleagues, social acquaintances, or other people who know about your sexual offense.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the intimidating consequences of a sex crime conviction. These consequences aren’t meant to scare anyone but they’re here to help everyone be aware of what’s going to happen to you once you’ve been convicted of a sex crime. The best way to avoid these consequences is to never do a sexual offense of any type. But if you’re allegedly accused of a sex crime, you must get an experienced sex crime attorney on your side so you can get the best possible outcome for your case.