Few crimes are handled as severely as those involving sexual offenses. If you are convicted of these crimes, along with fines and jail time, you will also face lifelong restrictions that seriously impact your way of life. Understanding these restrictions and what they mean for your future can help you avoid additional sex crime charges.
Residential Restrictions
After a criminal conviction, one of the most well-known consequences of sex offenses is the limitations on where you can live. According to Indiana Code 35-42-4-11, a “sexual predator” cannot reside within 1,000 feet of school property. Notably, residing does not mean permanently living, but simply spending more than three nights.
When moving into a new neighborhood, your neighbors will usually be alerted to your presence. Oftentimes, it will be more difficult to find housing at all, as anyone potentially renting or selling will be able to access your record. This, combined with the legal restrictions on where you can stay, will make finding a home daunting.
Distance Restrictions from Victim
You cannot legally live within one mile of the victim. You will also likely have to operate within the restrictions of a restraining order. This means that you must always remain a certain distance away from the person filing it, or else you will face additional consequences.
Breaking This Rule Can Add Offenses to Your Record
Breaking basically any restrictions placed on you after a sex offense conviction will result in a Level 6 felony under Indiana Code 35-42-4-10. This will add more fines and potential jail time to your sentence while also impacting your record. Becoming a repeat offender will make it much more difficult to carry on with your life after a conviction.
Limitations on Employment Options
Being included on the Indiana Sex & Violent Offender Registry can also limit your employment opportunities, especially if you work in a field where you are typically in close contact with minors. For example, you may be prohibited from working at schools, daycare facilities, and other locations where minors will be present. In some cases, you may even be barred from entering certain buildings.
This is, of course, a massive blow to your career if you are a teacher or daycare worker. In fact, decades of career experience and education may no longer be useful to you in these cases. That can leave you stuck beginning a new career as you adjust to life on this registry.
Unfortunately, your sex offender registration can also indirectly hurt other employment opportunities. Sex offender registries and criminal backgrounds will appear on a background check, meaning your potential employer may know this history well before you are hired. While other employers may not have the same restrictions as schools and similar facilities, they may still decline to employ you.
Limitations on Communication with Minors
Even the amount of communication you are allowed with minors may be extremely restricted. For example, you may be accused of inappropriate communication with a child under Indiana Code 35-42-4-13, which is a Level 6 felony. This offense includes any situations where you may have knowingly or intentionally communicated with a child under 14 in a sexual or inappropriate way.
In serious cases, you may be barred from communication with your children as well if child abuse or assault is a potential concern. In fact, if you are involved in a child custody case, you may find your sex offender registration status being used to prevent you from seeking custody. These issues can even impact your visitation rights.
Indiana also has restrictions on certain other methods of communication, such as using drones to contact or photograph another person. You may also need to be more aware of any online communication, especially if minors may be involved, and talk with a professional if you are concerned about violating any of these rules. With help, you can potentially avoid violations of these restrictions that could destroy your future.