Last Updated on: 1st August 2023, 01:29 am

What Is A Sex Crime?
There are various types of sex crimes that you could be charged with instead of just one specific type. Most laws offer that a sex crime is any sexual act that is illegal or coerced by one person against another. Examples include rape or indecent exposure. Each state has laws regarding how they view each type of sex crime and the punishments that are given if you are convicted. Victims of a sex crime have the right to file charges against the person who committed the act. If you are convicted of a sex crime, then you are typically regarded as a sex offender.

Indecent exposure is a crime that involves displaying the genitals in a public setting. Any kind of unwanted sexual touching is considered sexual assault. Prostitution is a sex crime that involves one person paying another for a sexual act that is performed. Solicitation is also a part of prostitution and involves one person enticing another to perform a sexual act. Rape is another sex crime that is often reported by either a female or male. This is the forcible act of sex by one person on another. Statutory rape is the rape of a minor.

Penalties For Sex Crimes
One of the penalties for being convicted of a sex crime is that you will need to register as a sex offender. There will be certain places where you aren’t allowed to go, such as schools and playgrounds. Some states require that you check in with the local police department for certain occasions, such as Halloween so that you are no longer around children if the sex crime involved a child. Each state handles sex crimes in a different manner. Most sex crimes are considered misdemeanors, but there are some instances when the crime is a felony. Factors that play a part in deciding the sentence for a sex crime include your criminal history and the nature of the crime. If there was any kind of violence involved, then the punishment is often more severe. The punishment is also more severe if children are involved. Some sex crimes, such as the molestation of a child, can result in up to 25 years in prison.

If you are convicted of rape, then you could be sentenced to at least 10 years in prison. If the victim of the sex crime is injured or threatened, then the sentence could be life in prison. Most states have tiers regarding the punishments that are given. The prosecution often examines each case individually instead of looking at a standard set of rules and regulations as each scenario is different. However, elements must be met for a sex crime to be prosecuted.

Common Defenses
One of the defenses that can be used if the sex crime involves a child is that one parent is angry at the other in a custody case. Another common defense in sex crimes is that the victim lied about the incident. If the crime is statutory rape, then the court has to look at the ages of all of the people involved as the victim could have lied about the age before the sexual act, changing the story after the incident took place. You could use a defense that you are involved in a relationship with another person and that the sexual act was a part of what the other person wanted at the time.

How Can A Lawyer Help?
An attorney can offer assistance in a variety of ways. Your attorney can look at the ages of everyone involved to determine if each person was of a legal age to consent. Evidence can also be presented about whether the sex crime was intentional or if the other person involved is claiming that something happened as a form of retaliation.