Who Needs to Register as a Sex Offender in CT?
If you are convicted of a sexual offense, you can expect to spend time in prison and have to pay hefty fines. While many people know that convicted sex offenders must register with the police, you may not know which crimes require you to be listed on the sex offender registry.
If you have been convicted of a sexual offense, you need experienced representation that can only come from a Stamford sex crime defense lawyer.
What is the Sex Offender Registry?
The sex offender registry is a list of all convicted sex offenders in the state. You can search for a particular person to find out their personal information, including the offender’s home address, physical appearance, and prior criminal history. You can search sex offender registries for the entire country by visiting the National Sex Offender Public Website.
The registry is a system for monitoring sex offenders who are released back into the community. If a crime is committed, the registry can be used to identify offenders who live in the vicinity of the crime. This will help law enforcement to narrow down possible suspects.
Sex Crimes that Require Sex Offender Registration
Under Connecticut law, offenders for the following crimes must register with the sex offender registry:
- First-degree aggravated sexual assault with a minor: Occurs when the offender and victim have sexual intercourse, and the victim is younger than 16 years old.
- Second-degree sexual assault with a minor: Occurs when the perpetrator and victim have sexual intercourse, and the victim is under 18 years of age under certain criteria, or if the victim is between 13 and 15 years of age and the offender is more than three years older.
- Third-degree sexual assault: Occurs if a person uses force to sexually touch a non-consenting victim.
- Fourth-degree sexual assault: Occurs when the offender sexually touches the victim without that person’s consent, if the victim is under 15 years old, if the offender is more than three years older, or if the victim is physically helpless.
- Voyeurism: Occurs when a person films, photographs, or captures video footage of another person without that person’s consent in a situation in which the victim has a reasonable expectation of privacy. The offender does so for his or her own arousal or sexual gratification.
How Long Does Your Name Remain on the Registry?
Adhering to Megan’s Law, all sex offenders have to be listed on the sex offender registry for a minimum 10-year period if they have committed a non-violent crime against a minor.
The law will dictate how long your name must be listed on the registry, with some crimes only requiring you to be listed for ten years following your release and some requiring you to be listed for life.
Simply having your name on the registry can ruin your chances of any meaningful relationship. If your name is listed on a sex offender registry, you need a Fairfield County sex crime defense lawyer who will know how to potentially get your name removed.
Have You Been Convicted of a Sex Crime? Contact a Stamford, CT, Sex Crime Defense Lawyer
Being listed on the sex offender registry can impact your ability to get a job, rent an apartment, or get a degree in your chosen field. Do not let one single mistake destroy your ability to live the life you deserve.
If you have been convicted of a sex crime but believe that your sentence should be reduced or reversed, look no further than our Fairfield County, CT, sex crime defense lawyer at Law Offices of Daniel P. Weiner. Call 203-348-5846 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.