A sex crime charge is serious. Sex crimes can be broadly defined as the act of knowingly causing by threat or force another person to engage in a sexual act against their will. These crimes are prosecuted by both federal and state governments. If a sex crime involved the crossing of state lines, the federal government is usually involved.
Does Force Always Have to be Involved?
Many sex crimes such as rape involve the use of force or the threat of force. However, there are sex crimes that do not involve the use of force. These include statutory rape and child molestation. These acts are considered illegal even if force wasn’t used because the victims are not legally capable of giving consent. Sexual acts against a person with a disability may also be considered a sex crime if the disability prevents them from consenting to the activity.
Some sex crimes may still be considered illegal even if they involve consenting adults e.g. incest and prostitution. Other sex crimes may not involve direct sexual contact with the victims e.g. child pornography.
When Sexting is a Crime
Sexting is relatively new. It involves sending sexually explicit photos by mobile phone. Minors have been found to be involved in this behavior. Although the law has been slow to catch up with technology, sexting involving minors can be prosecuted under child pornography laws. The problem with this is that child pornography laws are designed to catch sexual predators. Since minors have been found to send photos of themselves to others, the penalties for sexting are considered too harsh by critics.
Penalties for Sex Crimes
Penalties for sex crimes vary depending on the offense and the state laws. Penalties include imprisonment and fines. Most sex crimes are considered felonies while others are considered misdemeanors.
Sex crimes can result in lifetime imprisonment. Some states may impose chemical castration if the defendant is a repeat offender. This lowers the sex drive in male offenders and reduces the chances of a repeat offense.
Requirement to Register as a Sex Offender
If you are convicted of a sex crime involving non-consensual sex, you will be required by law to register with the police as a sex offender. You will thereafter have to disclose where you work, live and study. Your current whereabouts and details of your crime will become available to the public. If any individual is concerned about you or your behavior, they can check public records and access this information.
Since penalties for sex crimes can be extremely harsh and the stigma of a conviction may last a lifetime, you should always retain an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent you if you face any type of sex crime charge.
