Sexual assault crimes are highly charged crimes, and as such, the penalties reflect that. When someone is convicted of a sexual assault charge, it will be up to a judge to determine the parameters for the convicted person’s punishment. The jail time, if any, sexual offender registration level and other conditions all determined by a judge based upon a variety of factors particular to the offense and the history of the person convicted.
In the state of New York, the maximum time for a forcible sexual abuse is seven years, while it is as much as 25 years for a forcible rape. On top of that, those convicted will be required to register, with various conditions, as a sex offender for a minimum of 20 years from their release from jail and possibly their entire life. As such, if charged with a sex crime, you should have an experienced defense attorney at your side or it may impact you for the rest of your life.
It is also important to note that state laws aren’t the only rules that pertain to sexual assault. Federal sexual assault laws set a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, and they also force the convicted person to pay the victim’s attorney’s fees. The punishment involved in these charges is so severe that any accused person needs to get a criminal defense attorney to stand up for his or her rights.
With so many factors in play during a sexual assault case — from forensic evidence and analysis, to testimony and potentially statements by witnesses — it is imperative that every part by analyzed and dissected. A criminal defense attorney can help you in this regard.
Source: FindLaw, “Sexual Assault Penalties and Sentencing,” Accessed Dec. 1, 2016