In Orlando, individuals who are convicted of sex crimes may face severe penalties. Some of the most stringent penalties for sex offenders are residency laws, which dictate where a convicted sex offender can live and the steps they need to follow to register themselves with the local government.
Florida Statutes dictate that any person considered a registered sex offender is prohibited from living within 1,000 feet of a school, childcare facility, park, or playground. To ensure that offenders don’t break this rule, sex offenders must register with the local sheriff’s department. Once registered, they must notify authorities any time they move to ensure they stay in compliance. Any convicted sex offender who fails to comply is subject to additional charges and penalties.
The law specifically describes who is considered a sex offender in the state of Florida. Sex offenders include any person who is convicted of crimes such as:
Residency laws for sex offenders exist to protect innocent people from individuals who might commit a repeat sexual offense. If you’ve been charged with a sex offense, it’s important to understand the laws you must comply with so you don’t face additional charges in the future.
Any sex offender who fails to comply with residency laws faces serious consequences. The local authorities keep tabs on sex offenders to ensure they’re abiding by residency laws at all times. If a sex offender is discovered within 1,000 feet of a school, park, playground, or childcare facility, they can face charges ranging from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony. Common penalties for such charges include:
Any individual who is charged with the crime of unlawful residency by a sex offender should seek the help of a trusted attorney as quickly as possible. An attorney with experience handling residency cases will be able to use their knowledge to create a viable defense strategy.
Experienced criminal defense attorneys understand how to build a case that stands up in court. The best defense attorneys know that for a person to be convicted of unlawful residency by a sex offender, the prosecution must be able to prove that they were in fact, in that location.
Viable defense strategies for unlawful residency by a sex offender include:
It’s important to understand that an individual person can’t press charges against a registered sex offender just because they’re next door. The location of every registered sex offender is available to the public. Therefore, builders, developers, business owners, and homeowners can check the neighborhood before they purchase a property. If you’re facing charges for your residency as a sex offender, you need knowledgeable, trustworthy attorneys on your side.
In and around Orlando, The Umansky Law Firm is a trusted source of legal representation for sex offenders. Our team at The Umansky Law Firm has more than 100 years of combined experience defending criminal cases and they want to help you too. We believe everyone deserves a second chance and will do everything in our power to fight for your case by building the best defense.
To schedule a free consultation, call or contact the firm online today. Don’t let our life be defined by a single mistake, get help today!
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
