Sex crime charges can carry life-altering consequences. If convicted, you could face significant jail time, probation, and mandatory sex offender registration. The registration requirement can last a lifetime and include community notification requirements. Beyond the legal penalties, a sex crime conviction carries a social stigma that can permanently damage your personal and professional life.
You need a sex crimes attorney in New Jersey who will provide aggressive, strategic representation. A knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer can protect your rights and help you understand your options. Even if the allegations feel overwhelming or public scrutiny is intense, a strong defense can reduce your exposure and help you work toward the best possible outcome.
The Law Office of Jason A. Volet is here to help. Our firm can jump in immediately to protect your rights and reputation while we build your defense. Contact us today to learn more.
What Are the Legal Penalties for Sex Crimes in New Jersey?
New Jersey law grades sex crimes by degrees, depending on the specific offense. Penalties for a sex crime conviction can include:
| Degree | Prison Time | Fines |
| First-degree offense | 10 to 20 years | Up to $200,000 |
| Second-degree offense | 5 to 10 years | Up to $150,000 |
| Third-degree offense | 3 to 5 years | Up to $15,000 |
| Fourth-degree offense | Up to 18 months | Up to $10,000 |
| Disorderly persons offense | Up to 6 months | Up to $1,000 |
More severe sex offenses can come with additional fines and jail time, including up to a life sentence and parole supervision for life. However, the penalties don’t end there.
What Other Consequences Are There for Sex Crime Convictions?
Convictions for sex crimes in New Jersey may carry other consequences beyond prison time and fines. Depending on the offense, a convicted sex offender may have to register with the state’s sex offender registry as established by Megan’s Law.
A sex crime conviction also results in a criminal record that will show up in background checks for employment, housing, or educational programs.
A sex crime on a person’s criminal record may result in disqualification from many forms of employment, including positions that require contact with children or vulnerable persons. Contact our New Jersey sex crime lawyer today.
What Is Megan’s Law in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, Megan’s Law governs the obligations of certain sex offenders to register and report to state authorities. Sex offender registration enables law enforcement officials to monitor known offenders for potential future sex crimes and give the public notice about individuals who have committed sex crimes.
An Overview of Megan’s Law
New Jersey enacted its initial version of Megan’s Law in memory of 7-year-old Megan Kanka. Megan’s neighbor had prior convictions for sex offenses before he sexually assaulted and murdered her in Hamilton, New Jersey, in 1994. Megan’s Law now provides the public with notice of any sex offenders in the community.
The law established a sex offender registry, which requires criminal defendants convicted of specific sex offenses to register on the public registry. The New Jersey State Police maintains the Megan’s Law registry, with most information accessible online.
The information included about a particular sex offender depends on the offender’s categorization. Offenders with a high risk of re-offense will have more information listed on the public registry than offenders with a moderate or minimal risk of re-offense.
Differentiating Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 Sexual Offenders
New Jersey classifies sex offenders into three tiers. These levels determine which registration and public notification requirements they must comply with. The tiers are based on their risk of reoffending and include:
- Tier I (low-risk offenders) – These offenders must register with law enforcement agencies. The information is accessible to authorities. It includes their name, photograph, address, employment, vehicle description, license plate, and brief details of their conviction.
- Tier II (moderate-risk offenders) – In addition to requiring these offenders to register with law enforcement, notifications are provided to nearby schools, licensed daycare centers, summer camps, and community organizations. The information provided is the same as Tier I, but it may also include details about potential victim access.
- Tier III (high-risk offenders) – Law enforcement, schools, daycare centers, summer camps, and registered community organizations will be notified. Similarly, members of the public can view their registration information via an official website.
A conviction affects your immediate liberty and reputation, but it also gives the public access to your personal information and long-term obligations. Many offenders do not realize that the tier designation also affects their day-to-day freedoms and long-term planning.
For example, Tier II and Tier III offenders have restrictions on where they can live and limitations on their travel. They’re likely to face barriers to employment or volunteering, especially around vulnerable populations.
Even low-risk Tier I offenders are required to report changes in residence or employment. If they fail to comply, they may face additional criminal charges.
The social consequences can also be profound. Tier III’s public registration can affect your family relationships, friendships, and interactions within the community. Some offenders experience harassment or encounter difficulty finding housing and employment.
Protecting your rights and minimizing the collateral impact requires careful strategy and experienced representation. An experienced sex crimes attorney in New Jersey can help challenge the tier classification and negotiate for reduced penalties whenever possible.
Registration Requirements
After committing a first offense requiring registry under Megan’s Law, a person must comply with their registration obligations for 15 years following conviction or release from imprisonment, whichever occurs later.
After 15 years, a registrant under Megan’s Law who has not committed another offense may petition to terminate their registration obligations. The court can grant the petition if the registrant is not threatening the public.
People with convictions for sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault may not be eligible for removal from the list. Those convicted of two or more sex offenses face lifetime registration obligations and cannot petition to terminate their obligations. Our New Jersey sex crime lawyer can help.
Public Notification
Individuals who qualify as Tier 2 or Tier 3 sex offenders will likely have various categories of information published on the state’s internet sex offender registry, made available to the public.
The information included on the registry includes:
- A photograph of the registrant and the date of the photograph
- The registrant’s name and any known aliases
- The registrant’s address
- The qualifying sex offenses committed by the registrant
- A brief description of the offender’s modus operandi (method of offense)
- Whether officials have deemed the registrant to pose a moderate or high risk of re-offense
- A physical description of the offender, including gender, age, date of birth, race, hair color, eye color, height, weight, tattoos, or distinguishing scars
- A description of the offender’s known registered vehicles, including make, model, year, color, and plate number
Anyone under 16 lacks the legal capacity to give informed consent to engage in sexual activity, even if they understand the nature and consequences of that activity.
The cost of hiring a sex crime defense attorney will depend on various factors, including the charges you face, the complexity of the evidence, and the strength of the prosecution’s case.
