Getting accused or convicted of drunk driving in New Jersey is considerably less bad than it is in other states. Sure, the fees, fines, and surcharges are expensive, but DWI is not a crime in New Jersey, so you just go to traffic court like you would do for failure to obey a road sign, and you come away from the case without a criminal record. Anything else that would be a crime in other states is a crime in New Jersey, even though New Jersey calls such actions “disorderly persons offenses” and “indictable offenses” instead of misdemeanors and felonies. If you are being accused of any crime, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer, but this is especially true in the case of sex offenses because the consequences of a conviction for a sex offense go far beyond the usual criminal penalties, such as jail time or probation. A New Jersey sex crimes attorney can help you if you are being accused of a sex offense.
Criminal Penalties
New Jersey categorizes a wide variety of offenses undertaken for purposes of sexual gratification as sex crimes, and the penalties for such offenses vary widely according to the nature of the crime. Some sex crimes, such as indecent exposure or offering to pay for commercial sex, are disorderly persons offenses, and the maximum penalty is a sentence in county jail, but many defendants get probation instead. At the other end of the spectrum are felony sex offenses such as sexual assault and solicitation of a minor. Some sex crimes can carry such long prison sentences that they might as well amount to life in prison. Every case is unique, and your lawyer can choose the most appropriate defenses or seek a plea deal.
The Sex Offender Registry
The requirement to register on the New Jersey sex offender registry is part of the sentence for most sex offenses. How long your name must remain on the sex offender registry varies according to the offense of which you were convicted, but it is usually years beyond when you complete all the other conditions of your sentence. Some offenses require you to stay on the sex offender registry for life. While you are registered as a sex offender, you must notify law enforcement every time your residential address or place of employment changes. How much information about you is visible to the public depends on how the court assesses your risk of committing additional sex crimes in the future.
Restrictions on Employment
The court has the right to impose restrictions on convicted sex offenders regarding where they can work or the professions they can practice. For example, people’s careers in law enforcement and education have ended prematurely because of sex crime convictions. If your case involved a minor victim, the court can even forbid you to go near places where children are likely to be present, such as schools and playgrounds.
The Lingering Financial Burden
The financial penalties for a criminal conviction are much bigger than people without criminal records realize. The time you spend in jail or prison is time you miss out on paid employment. You must pay for your own probation and, if applicable, court-ordered counseling. Worst of all, your criminal conviction appears on background checks every time you apply for a job, and you must always explain yourself to prospective employers.
The Social Stigma
In a court of law, all defendants in criminal cases are presumed innocent until and unless they plead guilty or receive a guilty verdict at trial. That is not how things work in the court of public opinion, however. When people hear the words “sex crime,” they assume the worst, even if you have not been convicted. Of course, being accused of a sex crime and then acquitted, or having the charges dropped before you enter a plea or before your case goes to trial is immensely preferable to getting convicted. The sooner you start working with a criminal defense lawyer after people start accusing you of a sex offense, the better. Even if you have not been arrested or charged with a crime, a sex crimes defense lawyer can help you clear your name before things get worse.
Contact a New Jersey Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer
A criminal defense lawyer can help you avoid the worst consequences if you are being accused of a sex-related offense. Contact the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall to discuss your sex crime case.
