When you are faced with a felony sex charge, an attorney who has regularly advised and represented clients in sex offense matters can help explain your rights, your legal options and consequences. To learn more about legal services, contact our firm to schedule a consultation and case evaluation with an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Answers to Your Sex Offense Questions
If you have been charged with a sex offense in Pennsylvania, you can expect a tough fight from the prosecution and serious consequences for a conviction. At the Bucks County law offices of Attorney Niels C. Eriksen, we will be by your side every step of the way. Answering any and all questions you may have, we will help you do everything you can to build the best possible defense.
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If you are convicted of a sex offense in Pennsylvania, you will be subject to Megan's Law, which means mandatory sex offense registration. Regardless of the nature of your crime and your jail sentence, this will haunt you the rest of your life. You want to do everything you can to minimize its impact and reduce your sentence to a non-sex offense, if possible. Contact a lawyer today to find out what you can do.
With so much riding on the results of your sex offense case, make sure you know what you are up against and what you can do to fight the charges. With over a decade of experience protecting the accused facing federal and state sex offenses, we can answer any questions you have and we will make sure you explore all your options for the best possible defense. Contact us today for a free initial consultation and find out more.
Sex Offender Registry
All states require sex offender registration of some kind. Individuals convicted as sex offenders must register their addresses with law enforcement. Sex offenders must also send updates whenever they change addresses and must keep their registration information current. Some states require sex offenders to verify information on a yearly basis via mail or more frequently if deemed violent predators. States have different requirements regarding what offenses require registration and for what periods of time. Additionally, some offenses that are more serious may require registration for life. Serious crimes vary by state, but most commonly include repeat offenders, violent sexual offenders and those who commit sexual crimes against children. If you are concerned about your status under these rules, contact Law Office of Niels C. Eriksen Jr., LLC in Langhorne, Pennsylvania for help and advice.
Community Notification
In addition to sex offender registration laws, all fifty states also have community notification laws. States enacted sex offender registration laws and community notification laws in response to state and federal acts, mainly Megan's Law, the Jacob Wetterling Act and the Pam Lyncher Sexual Offender Tracking and Identification Act. Megan's Law was passed by the New Jersey legislature when Megan Kanka, a seven-year-old girl, was kidnapped and murdered by her neighbor, who had been previously convicted of sex offenses against children. Congress passed the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act ("Jacob Wetterling Act") in 1994, to give law enforcement agencies, the FBI and the public access to state sex offender registries. To avoid losing federal funding, states passed laws in compliance with the Jacob Wetterling Act. Public notification of sex offender information was furthered in 1996 by the federal Megan's Law. This enabled law enforcement to release sex offender registry information to the public in order to protect the community. Also in 1996, Congress enacted the Pam Lyncher Sexual Offender Tracking and Identification Act, which created a federal sex offender registration database.
State implementation of these federal laws may vary. Generally, when sex offenders register with local law enforcement, that information is given to the public in the offenders' areas. This may include school boards or principals, neighbors and child care facilities near where the registered sex offender lives and works. The public may also view the sex-offender registry for some states on the Internet or at local police departments. Additionally, some states have mandatory sex-offender notification processes. Neighbors, business and schools in the offender's geographic area may be notified of his or her name, address and vocation. The notification process and length of time an offender must register varies from state to state. However, generally, if you must register as a sex offender, your community will have access to your identity, address and sex-offender classification. If you have been charged with a sexual offense, you should contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Our law firm understands the personal impact of being labeled a sex offender and will use its experience to provide you with a vigorous defense to help you try to avoid having to register as a sex offender.
Conclusion
Sex offender registries and notification are important for community protection from violent predators. However, in the drive for safety, some lesser offenses may be included and this can be devastating to a sex offender. If you are facing sexual-assault charges in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, you need the experienced and aggressive defense that an attorney at Law Office of Niels C. Eriksen Jr., LLC will provide.
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