The Afterlife Of A Sex Crime Conviction

Rebuilding your life after a criminal conviction is a challenge; the support of family and friends makes it easier, especially if they can help you reenter the workforce, so you do not always have to explain to prospective employers why a conviction appears on your record.  Eventually, you can get your voting rights back.  If you have minor children and do not live with their other parent, you can exercise your court-ordered parenting time.  The prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment means that you should not suffer a lifetime of harassment or exclusion because of a long-ago crime for which you have completed your sentence, which might include prison, probation, monetary fines, or a combination of these.  The aftereffects of a conviction for a sex-related offense are noticeably worse, because the law might require you to remain listed on the sex offender registry for many years after you completed your sentence, where the crime would be completely in the past if it were about drugs, money, or even violence, instead of sex.  The best way to avoid this fate, if you are being accused of a sex crime, is to fight your charges with representation by a Pittsburgh sex crime lawyer.

A Sex Offense Conviction Can Lead to a Lifetime of Involvement With the Criminal Justice System, Even If the Crime Did Not Involve Physical Contact

For some sex crime convictions, it is possible to get a prison sentence so that, in practice, it amounts to a life sentence.  These scenarios are most common for sex crimes that involve physical violence, such as rape, and for sex crimes against children.  Many defendants who get long prison sentences eventually become eligible for parole, and some sentences involve a certain amount of time in prison followed by several years of supervised release, which works similarly to parole or probation, where the defendant is conditionally free and must meet frequently with law enforcement officers and fulfill other requirements set on a case-by-case basis by the judge.  Even after you finish your supervised release, most felony sex crimes require lifetime registration on the sex offender registry.

In the News

Robert Haley of York County is facing criminal charges for possession and production of content depicting the sexual abuse of minors.  Prosecutors allege that, in 2021, Haley produced four videos showing the sexual abuse of an 11-year-old child.  They also alleged that he possessed another video dating from 2025, showing a child of about the same age.  A grand jury voted to charge Haley, 41, with these offenses.  As of April 2025, he has not yet entered a plea.  If he is convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 140 years, followed by a lifetime of supervised release.

Contact Gary E. Gerson About Criminal Defense Cases

A criminal defense lawyer can help you if you are facing criminal charges for a sex offense.  Contact the law offices of Gary E. Gerson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania about your case.

Source:

justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/york-county-man-charged-production-child-pornography-and-related-offenses