One of the nastiest areas of criminal law facing a juvenile is a sex offense since most result in registration under Megan’s Law in NJ . You should also know that all minors are required to be represented by a lawyer when they appear in the juvenile court. These two facts make it absolutely imperative for you to enlist a skilled juvenile sex offense lawyer if your child has been charged with sexual assault or related violation.
Marshall Criminal Defense is a defense firm comprised of fifteen (15) highly knowledgeable criminal attorneys. The members of our team possess over a century of experience in Mercer County, Union County, Monmouth County, Ocean County and Middlesex County, representing individuals arrested for criminal sexual contact and other sex charges. Several lawyers on our staff also have significant time serving as prosecutors and learning exactly how things work from the opposite perspective. If you would like to speak to a lawyer in a free consultation, contact us anytime 24/7 at 855-450-8310.
When Is A Juvenile Subject To Megan’s Law?
There are certain sex offenses that trigger Megan’s Law. If your son or daughter is convicted of the following charges they are required to register as a sex offender:
- Aggravated Sexual Assault
- Sexual Assault
- Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact
- Kidnapping (if the victim is less than 16 years old and a sex offense was committed or attempted to be committed against them)
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child (where the misconduct is sexual in nature)
- False Imprisonment (if the Victim is a child and the offender is not their parent)
OR
- An attempt to commit any of the aforementioned crimes if the court found that the offender’s conduct was a pattern of repetitive and compulsive behavior
How Long Does The Juvenile Have To Register?
The general rule is that an individual will have to register for life unless they satisfy a strict standard for removal. In this regard, a juvenile may apply for removal if they go fifteen (15) years without commission of another offense and they present an expert report that demonstrates that that they are at low risk of re-offending. In the event the juvenile was under fourteen (14) when they committed the offense, they are permitted to apply for removal when they turn eighteen (18). These are the only two scenarios under which someone may be removed from Megan’s Law.
What Happens If You Do Not Register?
Failure to register as required by Megan’s Law is a third degree crime. It is also a fourth degree crime to fail to report a change address, provide your annual address verification, report access to a smart phone or internet capable device or to provide false information regarding a residence.
Megan’s Law Juvenile Defense Attorneys in NJ
As you can see, Megan’s Law has the ability to result in serious collateral consequences if your child is convicted of a sex offense. This should serve as even more reason to insure that your son or daughter is represented by a lawyer with experience handling juvenile sex charges. The defense attorneys at our firm, The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, have these qualifications and are prepared to do what is necessary to help you avoid a sex crime conviction. To speak to one of the lawyers at our firm immediately, call us at 855-450-8310.
