Understanding sex crimes and the different sex offender classifications can be insightful. There are many nuances to sex crimes, and our experts are here to help you navigate this complex topic. Let’s take a closer look at which crimes will result in classification as a sex offender.
Understanding the Tier System: Classifying Sex Crimes
Sex offenders will be placed into tiers to better determine whether or not there’s a major risk of reoffending. While none of the tiers have crimes that would be considered better than the other, the degree and the severity of the crime do come into play. Here’s an overview of the system and examples of the types of crimes that one might encounter.
Tier 1: Misdemeanors and Nonviolent Felonies (15-Year Registry Period)
- Watching a video of a minor that contains sexual content.
- Having and/or receiving child pornography.
- Traveling to or assisting in travel to engage in illicit activity with a minor.
- Imprisoning a minor.
- Speaking with a minor in such a way that’s designed to encourage criminal sexual behavior.
Tier 2: (25-Year Registry Period)
- Being involved in the creation or distribution of child pornography.
- Persuading minors to engage in sexual activity.
- Having intercourse with minors who are 16 or 17 years of age.
- Forcing minors into prostitution or sex trafficking.
- Using minors in sexual performances.
Tier 3: (Registration for Life)
- The kidnapping of a minor is done by someone who isn’t their parent or their guardian.
- Sexual abuse and sexual abuse of a minor, abusive sexual contact with someone under the age of 13, and aggravated sexual abuse.
- Having sexual contact with minors under the age of 13.
As can be seen from above, the legal repercussions tend to grow with each tier, and the crimes that sex offenders engage in grow in severity, which can indicate that they may continue reoffending in the future. Keep in mind that some of the requirements, such as registration for life under the third tier, may not apply in the case that the sexual offender is a juvenile delinquent with a clean record.
Controversial Crimes That Can Result in Sex Offender Status
There are many crimes we associate with sex offender status, but there are an equal number of crimes that we may hear about through various avenues regarding how someone was wrongly convicted and how their life was negatively impacted. There are numerous controversial sex offender crimes that one may not even know can result in having to register. A few of these crimes include:
- Taking nude photos/videos of yourself as a minor and sharing them with others (or spreading nude media of others as a minor).
- Soliciting a prostitute.
- Urinating in public.
- Incestual acts (this is a more extreme example, which could be deemed worthy of sex offender status to some).
- Engaging in indecent exposure can include anything from purposely flashing someone to streaking through an event.
- Consensual sex acts happen between minors.
- Hugging (this one is an extremely rare case, but some have been charged for unwanted physical contact).
- Viewing lewd or pornographic content on a computer within view of a minor.
It’s important to keep in mind that, if it’s an illegal behavior or an inappropriate one involving individuals who did not want to engage in said activities, it could very well result in someone being put on a sex offender list even if the crime is not always deserving of punishment (or if the topic itself is something that people commonly argue about).
Learn More From The Professionals
No matter the reason for your interest, working with Philadelphia criminal defense specialists can help you better understand the nuances and repercussions of sex crimes in Pennsylvania. Learn more from a sex crimes attorney in Philadelphia by getting in touch with us today.