New Law Prohibits Expungement For Pennsylvania Juvenile Sex Offenders

Pennsylvania recently changed the rules for expungement of juvenile sex offenses.

2012-11-17

November 17, 2012 (Press-News.org) New law prohibits expungement for Pennsylvania juvenile sex offenders

Pennsylvania law allows juvenile offenders to expunge a variety of items from their criminal records, even homicide. This option is based in a belief that those who commit crimes at a young age should be given a second chance.

This belief is not shared by everyone. In fact, it is at the root of a debate over a new law scheduled to take effect this December. The law prohibits expungement for rape, aggravated indecent assault or involuntary deviate sexual intercourse when the offense was committed by a juvenile age 14 or older.

Expungement normally happens when a child turns 18 and is a complicated process. When a record is expunged, it is completely destroyed. For anyone looking into a person's background, it would appear as if the crime never happened. In non-expunged cases, criminal court records are usually available to the public. The new law means anyone will be able to go to a local courthouse and see if an individual has been charged with or convicted of a sex offense as a child.

Adults with juvenile records often face significant barriers to education and employment opportunities. A record containing a sex offense presents even more difficult challenges. In addition to fewer educational and employment prospects, things such as public housing or professional licenses may also be more difficult to obtain.

Implementation of the new law, titled Act 91, is designed to comply with the Sexual Offenders Registration and Notification Act, which requires sex offenders to register in Pennsylvania. However, under the new law, even those who would not have to register as sex offenders cannot have their record expunged.

Law brings fairness concerns

There were initially concerns about hiding the fact that an individual committed a sex crime as a child. However, according to juvenile advocates, the potential disturbing consequences that could result from Act 91 outweigh these concerns.

A majority of children charged with sexual crimes are victims of abuse themselves, or are simply acting out sexually within their family. There is also an extremely small percentage of recidivism, which means juvenile offenders rarely reoffend as adults.

The children usually plead guilty because they know they have a later chance at expungement. In many cases, because the act occurs within the family, the guilty pleas come at the encouragement of the child's parents.

Under current expungement laws, between 600 and 800 juvenile records have been expunged since 2007. There are normally no issues with the district attorneys involved, since many believe the children should receive a second chance as well.

Criminal sexual charges on a record can have negative consequences that last a lifetime. If you or your child has been charged with a juvenile sex offense, it is important to consult with an experienced Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney who understands the unique concerns of juvenile defense.

Article provided by Gover, Perry & Shore
Visit us at www.ngplawfirm.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

2010 Pedestrian Fatalities Highlights The Importance Of Sharing The Road

2012-11-17

2010 pedestrian fatalities highlights the importance of sharing the road A recent announcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, also known as the NHTSA, revealed that pedestrian fatalities in car accidents increased by 4 percent nationwide in 2010. While the NHTSA surmises the reason behind this increase, pedestrians and drivers are reminded of the importance of remaining safe on the roads. The NHTSA has yet to find a firm reason for the increase in pedestrian fatalities, but the data gathered may help them begin to piece things together. The ...

Indiana Attorney General Sues Mortgage Aid Companies

2012-11-17

Indiana Attorney General sues mortgage aid companies Recently, the Indiana Attorney General filed five lawsuits suing mortgage aid companies for deceptive practices. This is not solely a problem in Indiana. The Federal Trade Commission announced in October that it also had sued three companies. The FTC suits sought to shut down the companies. The mortgage aid companies are accused of scamming financially distressed homeowners with claims that they could help the homeowners avoid foreclosure. In many cases, these companies ask for upfront fees that can reach thousands ...

Understanding Potential Liability In Alaska Aviation Accidents

2012-11-17

Understanding potential liability in Alaska aviation accidents In July of 2012, former Alaska State Representative Cheryll Heinze died from injuries she sustained in a small-plane crash during a fishing trip. The Cessna 206 in which the 65-year-old was riding crashed while landing on a southern Alaska lake. The other four passengers escaped with only minor injuries. Though the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has preliminarily ruled the crash to be an accident, the exact cause of this tragedy remains unknown. Strong wind was blowing across Beluga Lake when ...

Do Aging Doctors Put Patients' Safety at Risk?

2012-11-17

Do Aging Doctors Put Patients' Safety at Risk? As much as we don't always want to admit it, the unfortunate truth is some abilities decline with age. For some people, the biggest challenges come from physical changes, like impaired coordination, loss of strength, increased fatigue or trouble with vision and hearing. For others, cognitive problems like memory loss or dementia can take a huge toll. This loss of functioning can bring serious safety risks. Most people have heard stories about elderly drivers who cause serious accidents and the resulting calls for new ...

Review of Oregon Alimony Case Denied by U.S. Supreme Court

2012-11-17

Review of Oregon alimony case denied by U.S. Supreme Court Complex financial factors can challenge the smooth resolution of any divorce case, even if the spouses generally agree on issues of property division, child support or spousal support. More often, there is some disagreement over issues such as one spouse's obligation to pay or how a fair division of marital debt should be accomplished. An Oregon divorce dispute that originated in Linn County in 2009 has finally come to a conclusion after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case. Both the Oregon Court ...

Discrimination Against Obese People In The Workplace

2012-11-17

Discrimination against obese people in the workplace Even though more than one third of the adult population in the U.S. is obese, social and workplace discrimination against obese people is persistent and pervasive. Obesity is medical condition in which a person accumulates excessive body fat to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health. It is determined by a person's body mass index (BMI.) In general, a BMI of 25 to 29 is overweight, a BMI of 30 to 35 is obese, and a BMI of 35 or greater is considered morbidly obese. According to a recent online ...

Study: New Nursing Home Patients At Heightened Risk Of Falling

2012-11-17

Study: New nursing home patients at heightened risk of falling Usually, when someone ends up in a nursing home it is because their health is so fragile that living at home is no longer a safe option. When a loved one is admitted to a nursing home, most of us expect that they will be well-cared for. Unfortunately, nursing home neglect and abuse are real problems. Too often, nursing home patients do not get the care and attention they deserve. This problem is highlighted by a recent study showing that 21 percent of all newly-admitted nursing home residents suffer a ...

New York Participates In National Safe-Driving Campaign

2012-11-17

New York participates in national safe-driving campaign On October 14, 2012 New York State Police, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance held a press conference in Westchester County, N.Y to launch a nation-wide safety campaign targeting unsafe driving practices in commercial vehicles called Operation Safe Driver. Operation Safe Driver The week-long safety program is a partnership between federal safety agencies and state authorities aimed at reducing motor vehicle accidents involving commercial vehicles. Officials ...

Can the Police Draw Your Blood Without a Warrant? Supreme Court to Decide

2012-11-17

The United States Supreme Court recently decided to hear a case that could have an impact on the approximately 1.4 million people who are arrested nationwide for driving while intoxicated each year. The legal issue before the court is whether those who have been stopped on suspicion of DWI have Fourth Amendment protection against forced blood tests. The case, Missouri v. McNeely, began when a highway patrol officer in Missouri pulled over Tyler McNeely for speeding. During the stop, the officer claimed that McNeely's behavior gave him cause to believe that he was intoxicated. ...

How Can Workers Ensure On-the-Job Safety?

2012-11-17

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, private employers reported almost 3 million non-fatal injuries and illness among their employees in 2011. While laws exist to help provide safe workplaces for workers in the U.S., employees themselves can take steps to help protect themselves while on the job. Education One of the most important things that employees can do to help promote workplace safety is to educate themselves. Workers should be aware of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration's industry-specific safety standards for the fields in which ...

New Law Prohibits Expungement For Pennsylvania Juvenile Sex Offenders

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: