Being convicted of a military crime carries huge consequences. You may go to jail, lose your rank, be forced to pay a fine, or be dishonorably discharged from the service. But perhaps the scariest consequence of a sexual assault conviction is a consequence that could last a lifetime – sex offender registration.
Department of Defense Instruction 1325.07 lists all of the UCMJ offenses that require sex offender registration. And although sex offender registration requirements vary from state to state, the lifelong consequences are the same no matter where you live. It is important that you understand these consequences – because you’re in a fight for your life.
Consequences of Being on the Sex Offender Registry
When you register as a sex offender, your name is added to a nationwide database of offenders. It involves more than the police just “keeping tabs” on you. These registries are open to the public. Anyone can go online and search for you by name to see that you are a sex offender. Even worse, anyone can put their address into a database and find all the sex offenders within a certain distance of their home.
If you’re convicted of a military sexual assault, you will be required to register in your home state and remain registered until the state says otherwise. For most states, the minimum registration time is ten years from the date you are released from jail. In some cases, you may be required to stay registered for life.
Even if your registration is temporary, the consequences of the “sex offender label” will remain. For example:
- Restrictions on where you can live. Most states won’t allow sex offenders to live with certain distances of schools, parks, playgrounds, or other places where children gather. Even if you are convicted of an “adult” sexual assault, these restrictions will apply. As a result, it may be difficult to find a home in a place you want to live.
- Restrictions on where you can work. In addition to housing restrictions, most states limit where you can work. For example, you may not be able to work in a clothing store with changing rooms or at a salon or barber shop. You also will not be able to hold a job that comes with power and responsibility, such as a nurse, pharmacist (or pharmacy tech), etc.
- Loss of child custody or visitation. No matter what your conviction was for, the courts can deny you custody of your children and severely limit (or cancel) all rights to visitation.
- Decreased privacy. By being on the registry, your right to privacy is severely limited. Your neighbors and coworkers may even know that you are a sex offender.
- Prejudice and intolerance. Unfortunately, registered sex offenders face a lot of prejudice and intolerance. Your family, friends, and coworkers may treat you as a threat or an outcast. Some people may withdraw from knowing you at all.
These consequences are scary, and they increase all the time. For instance, the state of Missouri now restricts the activities of registered sex offenders on Halloween, requiring registered sex offenders to remain inside their homes and post signs outside stating, “No candy or treats at this residence – sex offender at this residence.”
Fighting to Preserve Your Reputation and Future
Once you’re branded as a sex offender, there is no turning back. That is why you need a team of experienced defense counsel working for you. Before it’s too late. The team at Golden Law has handled hundreds of military sexual assault cases. We are ready to fight for your reputation and future.
