Indianapolis Sex Offender Lawyer
Why Hire Our Sex Offender Attorney in Indianapolis
At The Criminal Defense Team, our team of sex crime lawyers in Indianapolis work closely with individuals who are accused of sex crimes. When possible, we try to remove the possibility of having to register as a sex offender in Indiana. Registration can ruin your reputation and freedom and subject you to ongoing monitoring that can result in additional criminal charges if you fail to register as required. If you are being charged with a crime related to the sex offender registry or want to avoid being added to this stigmatized list, we can help. If your sex offender claim involves a domestic violence charge, learn more about how that could affect your case with our Indianapolis domestic violence lawyer.
How The Criminal Defense Team Can Help with Sex Offender Registration Violations
When you are facing serious consequences, including the revocation of your probation for an alleged sex offender registration violation, you need an experienced legal team on your side. The Criminal Defense Team has over 100 years of combined experience representing clients accused of various crimes throughout Indiana. Four of the five Board-Certified Criminal Trial Specialists in Indiana work here at The Criminal Defense Team, an elite designation reserved for lawyers with proven expertise and dedication in one area of law and extensive trial experience. You can rely on our knowledge and experience to provide you with aggressive advocacy and compassionate legal counsel.
When you hire our firm, you can count on us to meet with you and get a better sense of the charges against you. We can investigate if there are viable defenses to the charges or if the violation was a simple misunderstanding. Once we determine your legal options, we can discuss them with you during a confidential consultation.
Contact us today to learn how our legal team can help.
How Indiana’s Sex Offender Registration Works
Indiana Code §§ 11-8-8-4.5 and 11-8-8-5 requires individuals convicted of certain crimes to register on the Indiana Sex or Violent Offender registry. Indiana sheriff’s departments collect information about registrants, including their names, location, offense, and appearance and share this information with the public. The Indiana Department of Correction is responsible for overseeing the registration. Individuals who are subject to registration often struggle to understand and adhere to the requirements imposed by Indiana law.
Under the law, individuals are typically required to register if they are convicted of any of the following crimes:
- Rape
- Sexual battery
- Vicarious sexual gratification
- Child molestation
- Child exploitation
- Child solicitation
- Child seduction
- Sexual misconduct with a minor
- Incest
- Kidnapping
- Criminal confinement
- Possession of child pornography
- Promoting prostitution
- Promoting sex trafficking, child sexual trafficking, or sexual trafficking of a younger child
- Human trafficking
- Sexual misconduct by a service provider with a detained or supervised child
Individuals who are required to register as a sex offender are subject to many requirements and restrictions, which may include:
- Reporting in person to a local law enforcement agency
- Providing personal information about themselves, residence, and vehicle to law enforcement
- Providing consent to have their electronic devices searched and monitoring hardware or software installed on their electronic devices
- Reporting changes, such as a change in address or job
- Being restricted from living in certain areas or interacting with children
- Keeping photo identification on their person at all times
- Being restricted from having online communication with a child under 16
- Being restricted from working in jobs involving working on school property, a public park, or a youth program center
Depending on the offense and criminal history, registration may be for ten years or for the rest of the registrant’s life.
Sex Offender Crimes And Penalties
Sex offenders can face various crimes for failing to comply with sex offender requirements, including:
- Failure to register as a sex offender when required, a Level 6 felony
- Failure of a sex or violent offender to possess identification, a Class A misdemeanor or a Level 6 felony if the person is classified as a sexually violent predator or has a prior conviction
- Unlawful employment by a sexual predator, a Level 6 felony or a Level 5 felony if the registrant has previously failed to register as a sex offender or comply with another registration requirement
- Sex offender internet offense, Class A misdemeanor or Level 6 felony if there is a prior conviction for this offense
A Class A misdemeanor is punished by up to one year in jail and a fine up to $5,000. A Level 6 felony imposes a potential penalty of up to 2.5 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000. A Level 5 felony is punished by up to six years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000.
Possible Defenses to Sex Offender Registration Violations in Indianapolis
Simply because you are being accused of violating sex offender registration requirements does not mean that you are guilty of them. Several defenses may apply, and an experienced criminal defense lawyer from our firm can evaluate your case and determine the viability of certain defenses.
You may not have known information, such as that a minor child was present somewhere you were, and can claim lack of knowledge or intent. Statutory defenses could apply in some cases. For example, Indiana Code 35-42-4-14 provides some statutory defenses, such as allowing a sex offender to enter a school if a religious institution or house of worship is located on the property. A clerical error could have resulted in your registration not being completed.
Reach out to our legal team who can investigate your case and advise you of potential strategies to minimize the effect of a sex offender registration violation.
What to Do If You Are Accused of a Sex Offender Registration Violation
When you are required to register as a sex offender, you lose many of the freedoms other citizens enjoy. While you are subject to unannounced visits by law enforcement, you should not say or do anything that could incriminate you. Follow these steps to safeguard your rights:
- Exercise your right to remain silent – While you may feel inclined to explain yourself and try to avoid being in trouble, you could inadvertently say something that harms your case and the potential to rectify it without having to serve jail time. Don’t let a police officer trick, intimidate, or coerce you into saying something that could harm you. Exercise your right to remain silent, and simply politely decline to answer any questions.
- Ask for a lawyer – Unequivocally state your desire to speak with an attorney. If law enforcement has read you your rights, they have explained you have the right to speak to an attorney, so take advantage of this right.
Call us immediately – Don’t hesitate to contact us for help with your case. We can discuss your case during a confidential consultation. You can explain what happened, and we can immediately begin to mount a robust defense on your behalf.
Contact Our Sex Offender Lawyer in Indianapolis Today
The Criminal Defense Team wants to protect your freedom and reputation. Contact our firm today for a confidential consultation to discuss your case.
Contact us for a free case consultation.