Florida Sex Crimes Penalties
In addition to the regular consequences a criminal conviction carries, a person convicted of a sexually related felony offense is looking at the following additional sanctions.
General Sex Crimes Penalties
Sex Offender Designation
Every person convicted of a sexually related felony offense is declared a sexual offender and is forced to comply with sexual offender registration laws throughout Florida and the United States.
Sex offenders must update their residence with every three to six months for their entire life.
Incarceration
Every sexually related felony offense scores mandatory prison.
Sex Offender Probation
Every person sexually convicted of a sexually related felony offense is placed on Sex Offender Probation; which restricts where you can live, imposes a curfew, requires mandatory sex offender counseling, and restricts where you can work.
“Jimmy Ryce” Civil Commitment Proceedings
Once convicted of a sexually motivated crime, the State Attorney can seek to have an imprisoned sex offender “committed” to a civil commitment facility upon the completion of the “criminal” prison sentence. This process essentially keeps a person locked up, even if they have completed their sentence.
Sex Crime Specific Penalties
Sex crimes in general carry harsh penalties and burdensome sanctions. Additionally, the more severe the sex crime, the greater prison time a person faces. Below are approximate prison sentences a first-time offender would be facing for specific sex crimes.
Lewd or Lascivious Battery
A person convicted of Lewd or Lascivious Battery would be facing a maximum sentence of fifteen (15) years in prison and a minimum sentence of seven (7) years in prison.
Lewd Offenses
There are a variety of laws that apply to Lewd or Lascivious offenses, generally the maximum penalty can be up to fifteen (15) years in prison and, in rare circumstances, the minimum sentence can be sex offender probation.
The most commonly charged lewd offenses are:
- Lewd or Lascivious Molestation; Sexual Touching of a Child
- Lewd or Lascivious Conduct
- Lewd or Lascivious Exhibition
Sexual Battery and Rape
Sexual Battery carries the most severe penalties of all sexual crimes in Florida. Depending on the victim’s characteristics, a person convicted of sexual battery (rape) would be facing a maximum sentence of life in prison and a minimum sentence of nine (9) years in prison.
Unlawful Sex with Minors and Statutory Rape
A person convicted of Unlawful Sexual Activity with Minors, commonly called Statutory Rape, is facing a maximum sentence of fifteen (15) years in prison and a minimum sentence of approximately five (5) years in prison.
Contact Sex Crimes Defense Attorney Richard Hornsby
If you have been arrested or charged with a sex crime in Central Florida or the greater Orlando area, please contact Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer Richard Hornsby today.
The initial consultation is free and I am always available to advise you on the proper course of action that can be taken.