As we’ve made clear in previous discussions on our blog, those convicted of sex crimes here in Florida face a host of consequences outside of a prison sentence, fines and permanent criminal record. Indeed, they face potential lifetime registration with the state, a societal stigma that will make it difficult to find employment and residency restrictions that can greatly complicate…
Any time a child or an adult is the victim of a sexually-related crime, the media, law enforcement officers and the public can immediately turn against the person who is accused of committing the offense. Even though every person in the U.S. is innocent until proven guilty, it can be hard to remember this when everyone seems to have turned…
False accusations of sex crimes can impact your life in many ways. Friends or family members may question you or your motives; your coworkers or employer may dislike being associated with your new reputation, which could lead to you being let go from your job. You could find yourself expelled from school or a university, or you could be in…
Back in September, federal officials indicated that roughly 70,000 sexual assault kits — an invaluable tool used in proving both guilt and innocence — have gone untested, gathering dust on the shelves of evidence rooms and crime laboratories across the nation. In response, these officials indicated that close to $80 million in funding would be allocated with the goal of…
This past summer, our blog began providing some background information on the sex crime registry here in Florida, examining the distinction between sexual offenders and sexual predators, the basic registration requirements for both, and the ability of these parties to be removed from the registry. As part of our ongoing effort to help explain how the system works, and demonstrate…
In a series of ongoing posts, we’ve spent some time exploring how anyone convicted of a sex crime here in Florida must register as either a sexual predator or sexual offender upon their release, as well as the rather draconian reporting requirements that accompany each of these classifications under state law. In light of just how onerous and stringent these…
In the wake of several high-profile cases involving sexual assaults on college campuses, much of the nation has become entangled in a heated debate over how colleges should handle sexual assault cases. As you may be well aware, both sides have weighed in on the issue, presenting cases for what they think is the right solution. On one side of…
In our last post, we discussed how those people convicted of a sex crime in Florida will find themselves subject to a host of stringent and rather onerous requirements, including mandatory registration with local law enforcement officials. To that end, we started examining how state law mandates that a person must register as either a sexual offender or a sexual…
The majority of individuals who have been convicted of a crime and are released after serving the entirety of their prison sentence can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they not only have their freedom, but also a fresh start as they will likely have little — if any — contact with law enforcement going forward. The same cannot…
