Sex crime claims, which range from relationships with underage people to lack of consent and indecent liberties, are among the most severe and delicate legal issues. Understanding your rights and taking appropriate action can significantly impact the result of your lawsuit. If you have been accused of a sex crime in New Jersey, there are crucial actions to take since even one accusation can have a negative influence on your reputation and career.
However, regardless of the alleged offense, you have the right to a fair trial and adequate representation to better the outcome. A Jersey City sex crimes lawyer will help you learn more information.
Understanding your situation.
Sex crime claims have serious legal and societal ramifications. Offenses such as relationships with minors, indecent liberties, and sexual assault can result in significant jail terms. Any conviction can have long-term consequences for your reputation and career. Offenses involving sex offenses also need obligatory registration as a sex offender, which might affect where you can reside and travel. It is also crucial to note that sex crimes are aggressively pursued by law enforcement and prosecutors, who will try to manipulate the jury’s emotions rather than the facts of the case, emphasizing the need to take these charges seriously from the start.
Protecting your rights.
Let us look at what your rights are and how they may affect the result of your case.
The right to remain silent.
You are under no obligation to speak with a police officer, an investigator, or anybody else as your case progresses. This means you do not have to answer questions in court or testify in your defense. The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution establishes the right not to incriminate yourself.
Can you be lied to by authorities?
Police and other investigators have a lot of leeway when it comes to what they may tell you during a court case. In other situations, they may attempt to persuade you that evidence linking you to a crime exists, even if it does not. Prosecutors may attempt to persuade you that admitting to the crime would result in a low sentence. This might be true even if the prosecution has no intention of providing you with a good deal in exchange for your assistance.
Do you need to produce a DNA sample?
In sex crime cases, police may find it simpler to show a defendant’s guilt by using DNA evidence. Of course, if your DNA is not on file, they would not be able to compare it to hair, saliva, or other fluids discovered at the scene. In many states, you are often obligated to produce a DNA sample in situations of alleged child sexual abuse.
Remember that you also have the right to an attorney. Do not hesitate or waste any time; speak with an experienced sex crimes attorney today.