Registered Sex Offenders Have Serious Limitations

Being convicted on some sex crimes requires that the person be placed on the sex offender registry. This designation means that the person has to comply with some very strict laws. Failing to obey those laws can mean that the person might face new criminal charges that have serious consequences.

One aspect of life that is limited for these individuals is where they can reside. They are prohibited from living within 1,000 feet of a school, licensed daycare facility or publicly owned playground. This is often difficult, because if a new licensed daycare or other prohibited facility opens within that distance, the person has only 90 days to move to remain in compliance with the restriction.

Some sex offenders have other residency limitations, such as not being able to live in a home with anyone who is under 18 years old. There are a few exceptions to this, but they are very strictly enforced. One exception is if the minor is your child or stepchild and wasn't a victim of your sex-related crimes.

With very few exceptions, people on the registry are allowed to use the internet. There are some limitations on which sites they can access. For example, no one on the registry is allowed to use the internet to gather information about or contact a minor. This includes taking or sharing pictures of minors unless they have written permission from the minor's parent, which must include an acknowledgement that they knew the one taking or sharing the photos is a registered sex offender.

When you consider the severity of some of the restrictions that sex offenders have to face, you can see how much more difficult life will be. One option that you have is to begin working on a defense strategy that can lead to a not guilty finding or to a minimization of the sentence you face if convicted.