If you have been convicted of a sex crime or are facing charges stemming from a sex offense, there is no doubt that your entire life can be turned upside down. You may have lost relationships with friends of family members, your job and your standing in the community in light of such damaging allegations.
Every criminal conviction has the potential to seriously upset a person’s life and future, but conviction of a sex crime can be especially damaging due to the unique penalties that may be ordered. This includes the requirement to register as a sex offender, which can prove to be just as devastating as a jail sentence.
Being required to register as a sex offender in Florida means continued monitoring and restriction after the rest of a person’s sentence has been fulfilled. This can go on for several years or even for the rest of your life. You will have to notify authorities where you live and work, when you move, what user names you have for Internet communications and even what your email address is.
As a registered sex offender, you are restricted in where you can live and with whom you can spend time. Additionally, it can be very upsetting to know that information of your offense and status is publicly available.
Further, a violation of any conditions of these requirements can result in serious penalties and even more jail time.
At minimum, these requirements can be inconvenient and troublesome. But for many people, they can prove to be ruinous. This is why it can be so important to aggressively defend yourself against allegations of a sex crime and work to avoid being a registered sex offender. The attorneys at Lindsey & Ferry know how high the stakes are in these cases, and we can help you understand your rights and what options you may have to build a defense. We encourage you to visit our webpage on our firm’s approach to Florida sex crimes if you have been accused of or investigated for sexual misconduct.