The previous governor of New Jersey enacted the Jessica Lunsford Act on June 2, 2014. This action made New Jersey the 45th state to sign the act into effect. This act was signed into effect to increase criminal penalties for those charged with aggravated sexual assault on victims 13 years or younger.

Recent Updates to the Jessica Lunsford Act

Since the governor signed the Jessica Lunsford Act, a few updates have been made, including:

• An increase in penalties from 10-20 years, to 25 years to life, in prison before being eligible for parole.
• If a prosecutor negotiates a plea agreement, the prison time cannot be less than 15 years in total.
• The defendant may not be eligible for parole during the 15-year minimum sentence.
• The court cannot sentence the defendant to lesser legal consequences than what is agreed to in the plea agreement.

Additionally, the Act requires convicted offenders to register with Megan’s Law and maintain Parole Supervision for Life (PSL).

Background on the Jessica Lunsford Act

The Jessica Lunsford Act came from a historical case in which a nine-year-old girl in Florida was raped and murdered. The criminal act was conducted by a convicted sex offender. After the public claimed that the offender never should have been given the chance to repeat their crime with their previous history, they agreed that sentencing should be harsher for certain people.

Some states took this act to an even stricter level where convicted sex offenders were required to be monitored by GPS for 25 years. The state of New Jersey has also recently added GPS tracking to the act. After the governor signed this act into place, it became effective immediately.

Criminal Sexual Assault Penalties in New Jersey

Sexual assault in New Jersey has legal consequences that vary, depending on the details of the case and whether the offender has had any previous offenses. Additionally, New Jersey categorizes sexual assault into different degrees, which can dictate the charges you receive.

Many cases of sexual assault are considered second-degree crimes. In New Jersey, this leads to between 5-10 years in prison and fines of up to $150,000. Aggravated sexual assault is a first-degree crime and in New Jersey, can lead to between 10-20 years in prison and legal fines of up to $200,000.

Keep in mind, however, these consequence minimums can be affected by the Jessica Lunsford Act.

Criminal Charges? You May Have Options Available

This act is in place to prevent convicted offenders from getting out of prison too early and committing criminal repeat sexual assault crimes.

This means that if you are dealing with potential criminal sexual assault charges in New Jersey, it is important that you take action soon. New Jersey is one of the harshest states when it comes to potential consequences. If you are innocent or all of the details are not currently present, you need a lawyer to build your defense. Otherwise, you risk jail time and the potential requirement of permanent registration with related acts.

Contact an Experienced Mt Laurel Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Sexual Assault Charges in New Jersey

Were you arrested or charged with sexual assault charges in New Jersey? The consequences of a conviction could be severe, leaving you with a permanent criminal record and possibly even sending you to jail. That is why you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible about your case. The Law Office of John B. Brennan has successfully represented clients charged with sexual assault charges in Marlton, Mt Laurel, Moorestown, Mt. Holly, Delran, and throughout New Jersey. Call (856) 446-5123 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have an office conveniently located at 10000 Lincoln Dr. East, Suite 201, Marlton, NJ 08053.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.