How Can Statutory Rape Charges Affect a Person
The ramifications of statutory rape charges are multi-faceted, as even if charges are dropped, the stigma that exists with these types of accusations tend to remain. One could easily face significant time in prison or jail and be required to register as a sex offender. The consequences of facing statutory rape charges varies from state to state because each state has very different laws pertaining to the crime.
Criminal charges of this kind are even damaging if the person is determined to be innocent of the crime. Criminal histories record all arrests made on an individual. Convictions are also recorded in someone's criminal history. These records are of the public record; anyone can obtain this information if there is a need for it. If convicted, the consequences of facing criminal charges of this nature are even worse.
Having a criminal record with a sex offense may subject someone to a strong social stigma that damages one's future ability to get a job or even have healthy future relations. This is mainly because once the word "rape" is mentioned in one's criminal history, it automatically connotes forcible rape. This is not the case in statutory rape because the crime always involves consensual sexual behaviors. Even if a person understands the nature of the statutory rape crime, a person may brand someone as a manipulative and conniving person that preys on weakness.
To address the issue of the unfair characterization of those convicted of this crime, many state legislators have dropped the sex offender registration requirement of statutory rape convicts. The majority of people facing statutory rape charges are males under 21 years of age with victims usually within 5 years younger than the offender. The victims are almost always people with whom the offender have a romantic relationship.
Statutory rape charges used to hold much harsher penalties for younger offenders; however, many states have adopted Romeo and Juliet laws to ease the ramifications of facing statutory rape charges. Generally, the criminal charges involved in this crime are of a more serious nature for older offender. This is more in line with the original intent of the law, to prevent older males from taking advantage of the naivety of younger females.
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