As a parent, nothing is worse than having a beloved son or daughter facing criminal charges. And when those charges are sex crime charges, it’s even worse! The stigma alone is enough to break any loving parent’s heart. We can’t tell you how many times we’ve sat with distraught parents over the years, answering their questions about how these charges are going to affect their child’s life in the decades to come. And one of their biggest concerns has to do with the Michigan Sex Offender Registry.
Parents worry about their teen’s futures as a registered sex offender
“Will my teenager be put on the sex offender registry?”
“Can we get my kid’s name removed from the sex offender registry?”
“How long does my child’s name have to stay on the sex offender registry?”
We get it. Being convicted of a sex crime is extremely serious, and can have a lasting impact on a person’s future. But being a registered sex offender is a whole ‘nother kettle of fish, especially here in Michigan where the registry puts severe limitations on people’s lives. So we thought we’d spend a few minutes looking at the issue of teens on the registry, and what that means for their futures.
Teen CAN be put on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry!
In some cases, Michigan teens can be prosecuted as adults, which means some very serious prison time (which is often the case when it comes to sex crimes!) So being young doesn’t always count in your favor. If the prosecutor decides your child’s crime was serious enough, and if the offense is one where the defendant can lawfully be charged as an adult even if they’re a minor, then they can (and often will) charge you like an adult! These are called waiver cases, and this is often when a teen gets put on the sex offender registry. Also note that in 2 years, Michigan law will change the age at which teens are prosecuted as adults. That age limit will increase from age 17 to age 18. However, kids under the legal age limit will still be exposed to prosecution as an adult for these very serious “waiver” cases.
There are a few exceptions to the rule, however…
Although most sex crime convictions in Michigan result in people being placed on the public Sex Offender Registry, there are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, under Michigan law, if the conviction was the result of a juvenile adjudication (which is a conviction made in juvenile court instead of in the regular, criminal court), might be able to petition the court to have their names removed from the sex offender registry in Michigan.
Choosing your defense attorney is critical because you’re choosing your future!
Being labeled as a “sex offender” is something that most kids don’t just bounce back from. Between the laws governing where they can go to school after their conviction, whether or not they have to register as sex offenders, and how they’ll be treated by their peers for the rest of their lives, this stuff is major! Which is why you’ll need a top-rated and aggressive sex crime defense attorney on your side. Someone who can fight for your kid’s future. Call us today at 866 766 5245 (866 7No Jail) to fight for your kids.