Sex Crimes Attorney Jersey City
A sex crime arrest carries a difficult stigma for people who are accused of any of the actions defined under New Jersey sex crime laws. Even if a person is not formally charged with a sex crime or is wrongfully accused, it can tarnish their reputation and carry permanent consequences.
Anyone accused of a sex crime in NJ will want to be proactive by hiring an attorney to ensure their rights are defended and they are treated fairly during the legal process.
If you've been accused of a sex crime, contact us today for a free consultation.
What Charges are Considered to Be Sex Crimes in New Jersey?
New Jersey has several sex crimes listed on its law books. Crimes a person can be accused and/or convicted of include but may not be limited to:
- Sexual and Aggravated Assault
- Rape and Date Rape
- Statutory Rape
- Indecent Exposure
- Sexual Battery
- Possession of Child Pornography
- Soliciting or Engaging in Prostitution
- Internet Sex Crimes
- Lewdness
- Criminal Sexual Contact/Aggravated Sexual Contact
- Child Molestation
- Sexting
- Human Trafficking
- Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
Depending on the severity of the exact charges, accused sex offenders could face anywhere between six months and 20 years of jail time if convicted. The least severe of crimes classified as a disorderly persons offense (i.e. lewdness) carry up to six months of incarceration, the most severe (i.e. child molestation or certain degrees of rape) can carry up to the full 20 years.
What is Megan’s Law?
Under New Jersey State Law, persons convicted of sex crimes must register as a sex offender. This is designated by the 1994 passage of “Megan’s Law”. This law requires all convicted sex offenders to be listed in a publicly accessible database to be managed by New Jersey’s Division of State Police. The database is called the Sex Offender Internet Registry.
The Sex Offender Internet Registry is listed online and the public has access to obtain available information related to people who have been convicted of a sex crime and are registered with the Division of State Police.
Authorities will assess listed individuals as low (Tier 1 offenders), moderate (Tier 2 offenders), or high risk (Tier 3 offenders) of committing a subsequent sex offense and the public. The public will have access to much of this information.
- The database does not make public the personal information associated with Tier 1 offenders.
- Tier 2 and 3 offenders will list the offender’s name, address, any aliases, sex offenses committed (including date and location of the offense), sex, race, age, birth date, height, weight, hair and eye color, and any distinguishing tattoos or scars.
Anyone committing a sex crime and designated as a Tier 2 or Tier 3 offender are also required to have a photograph taken of themselves. This photograph and the date the image was taken, along with details about the offender’s car and license plate will be listed on the Sex Offender Internet Registry. Information is verified and updated on a regular basis by authorities. It is not uncommon for a person to be required to be listed on the registry for life.
Consequences of a Sex Crime Conviction In New Jersey
In the State of New Jersey being convicted of one or more sex crimes often come with sentences of lengthy jail time and the requirement of registering as a sex offender on public record under Megan’s Law. Even if the convicted individual moves out of state, the label of a sexual predator will follow them because many other states also require people to register as sex offenders within a designated period of time after arriving in the state. A sex crime conviction makes it very difficult to live a normal life because it can be difficult to find a job, a place to live, or develop relationships.
“Even innocent people will need a strong defense if accused of a sex crime because wrongful accusations can and do frequently occur. Persons may be arrested on sex crime charges in cases of mistaken identity, accusers manipulated or unintentionally making a wrongful accusation, sex was consensual, overenthusiastic prosecutors, or disorganized police investigations. In some cases, DNA will be a determining factor, but in other cases, it may not be accessible and it may come down to a defendant’s word against their accuser.”Roy Breslow, New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney – Breslow Law Offices
Anyone accused of a sex crime will need a strong defense. A Jersey City sex crime attorney will examine all aspects of the accusation to ensure all details of the case are inspected carefully.
How a Sex Crimes Attorney in Jersey City Can Help
If you, or a loved one, are accused of a sex crime, this is a scary time considering the charges being faced. Convictions of sex crimes in the State of New Jersey come with harsh penalties. As such, you’ll want the best defense possible to ensure a fair trial is received. It’s important to contact a knowledgeable sex crime attorney as soon as possible so you can fight for your innocence or ensure your rights are protected.
The attorneys at the Breslow Law Offices are highly experienced criminal defense lawyers in cases involving sexual offenses. Attorneys Roy W. Breslow and Casey Breslow have more than 45 years of combined legal experience.
Both attorneys have worked as New Jersey prosecutors before moving into defense attorney roles so they have a thorough understanding of how sex crime charges are prosecuted in the State of New Jersey.
They’ve assisted countless clients across New Jersey courts, aggressively defending their rights. They also have an incredible track record of dismissals and have favorably negotiated pleas in both Municipal and Superior Courts for their clients.
To learn more about sex crimes in New Jersey, contact the Breslow Law Offices for more information at 973-239-8000 to obtain a free legal consultation.
Sources:
https://www.njsp.org/division/operations/sexual-violence-info.shtml
https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/sex-crime-law-in-new-jersey.html
https://njcasa.org/learn/law-and-legislation/
https://www.rainn.org/laws-your-state-new-jersey
https://www.nj.gov/oag/dcj/megan/meganguidelines-2-07.pdf
https://www.njsp.org/sex-offender-registry/
