New York is aggressive and hostile towards people who are charged with sex crimes. Just being accused of a sex crime can impact a person’s life and livelihood. The social stigma alone can ruin a person’s social and professional life. Sex crimes are different than other crimes where once you serve your time, you have paid your debt to society and are allowed to live your life. Sex crimes often follow a person for years either through the registration as a sex offender or limitation on where they may be and where they can work. A sex crime conviction can force a person to move from community to community to avoid public persecution. New York State drafted and implemented laws that hold sex offenders accountable for their actions and set up ways to keep tabs on their whereabouts. One of the most comprehensive legislation sex offenders must face is called the Sex Offender Registration Act. This law is very similar to New Jersey’s Megan’s Law, mandating that sex offenders must be registered and offenders’ locations known to law enforcement. In some cases, certain offenders’ whereabouts are known to the public. If you face a Rockland County sex crime charge, you need to contact an attorney as soon as possible. If you need our quality legal services, contact the sex crimes lawyers here at The Law Office of Kevin T. Conway.
Simply put, a sex crime is an act of a sexual nature that lacks the consent of the other party. Rape, sexual abuse, aggravated sexual assault, forcible touching, and many other acts are considered a sex crime by the state. “Consent” does not always mean explicit permission. Anyone under the age of 17 cannot legally give consent to sexual acts. In addition, the state believes that some degrees of mental handicap lack the capacity to give consent as well.
If you are charged with a sex crime, you are most likely facing a misdemeanor or felony. Rape, sexual abuse in the first degree, aggravated sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, and predatory sexual assault are all felonies and come with serious jail time. Sexual misconduct, forcible touching, and sexual abuse in the second and third degree are considered misdemeanors and come with severe consequences, including jail time. In addition to the judicial consequences, if you are charged and convicted of a sex crime, you will most likely be registered as a sex offender with the state and categorized under the 3 levels of risk according to the Sex Offender Registration Act.
According to the law, the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) requires sex offenders to register with a state registry that protects communities by providing information to the public about certain sex offenders living in the area. According to SORA, sex offenders are categorized into 3 levels based on the risk for repeat offenses. Level one is a low-risk offender, level 2 is a moderate-risk offender, and level 3 is the most serious offender. The public registry can only include levels 2 and 3. Level 1 offenders’ information is kept private to law enforcement and other judicial bodies. Most level 1 offenders will be on the registry for 20 years. Level 2 and 3 offenders will be on the registry for life.
The Law Office of Kevin T. Conway has more than 30 years of experience with the criminal courts of Rockland County. If you have been accused of a sex crime, you have a lot to consider about your future. A sex crime is a serious offense and even the mere accusation can ruin your life. If you need the quality legal services of a Rockland County criminal defense attorney, contact The Law Office of Kevin T. Conway today. We are ready to assess your case and fight for your future.
© 2024 The Law Office of Kevin T. Conway. All rights reserved.