If you are convicted of a sex crime, no matter how extreme or light, you may be forced to register as a sex offender in your county. This registration comes with a lot of difficult guidelines and can complicate your life. For example, if you are a registered sex offender, you are not allowed to be within 300 feet of any place that is intended for use by minors for education or recreation. This means that public parks, some beaches, all schools, and some other places like amusement parks or family fun centers may be off limits. If your residency is less than 300 feet from a park or playground, you will be required to move. These restrictions may change depending on which state you reside in. For example, in some states Six Flags has toyed with the idea of barring offenders from entering their premises. In other states any source of child entertainment like Chuck E Cheese or similar restaurants is not approachable.
If you are a registered sex offender, then you can only go to state and county parks and recreation areas if you have been permitted to do so by your judge. If you are a sex offender, then the only children that you are allowed to interact with are probably your own. Any biological or adopted children in your family that have been left in your custody are allowed to socialize with you. However, the law declares that sex offenders, especially those who have been convicted of pedophilia, stay away from anyone else’s children. In some cases, social workers may determine that you are not a fit parent because of your conviction and your children may be placed in foster care.
As a sex offender, you are allowed to attend church. In some states, you may be barred from attending a church that doubles as a school, daycare facility, or is within 300 feet of either of these operations. Because many churches also function as a preschool or a private elementary school, you will want to check with the courts before you attend your home church so that you do not end up with a sex offender violation charge. In some jurisdictions, sex offenders are required to add a sticker to their license plate or driver’s license as a mark that shows that they have committed a crime. All offenders are also listed on the state website registry, where they are present with their photo, name, information, and crimes.
In some cases, a sex offender who does not commit a subsequent offense after a determinant amount of years may have his or her offender registration revoked. Usually this time period spans at least one decade. When a citizen notices a sex offender in a location where he or she is not allowed, then the citizen has the duty to contact local law enforcement. You can be arrested if you are found in a public location where you have been barred by the law. If you are found being incompliant with your sentence, then states issue severe penalties. For example, in California a person who fails to register a change of address when he or she moves, or violates the rules as a sex offender will be taken to prison for between 90 days and 1 year.
In most states violating sex offender laws is a misdemeanor, but some states, such as Idaho, consider it a felony and will charge with up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Many times a sex offender is also not allowed to register online with social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, or eHarmony. States argue that sex offenders pose a high risk of reoffending after they are released from custody, and that protecting the public from these offenders should be a primary goal. If you have been charged with a sex crime, which can be anything from streaking in public to violent rape, you need criminal defense representation. You will want to fight hard to avoid being convicted of your crime and having to live with the punishments of being a registered sex offender.
