How Criminal Defense Lawyers Handle Certificates for Sex Crime Dispositions
Criminal defense lawyers play a critical role in helping their clients navigate the complex legal issues surrounding sex crime convictions and dispositions. Sex crimes carry severe penalties and collateral consequences, so having an experienced attorney to advocate on your behalf is extremely important. Here’s an overview of how criminal defense lawyers handle certificates related to sex crime dispositions in order to help their clients move forward.
Understanding Certificates of Rehabilitation
A Certificate of Rehabilitation is an order from a California superior court declaring that an individual convicted of a felony who was imprisoned or granted probation has demonstrated successful rehabilitation. Certificates of Rehabilitation provide limited relief for people convicted of sex crimes. They do not seal criminal records or restore all civil rights lost after a conviction. However, they can remove certain employment and licensing barriers.To be eligible, individuals generally must show 5 years of residence in California, plus an additional period of rehabilitation without further convictions. The required additional period depends on the conviction – for example, it’s 2 years for non-violent felonies and 5 years for violent felonies. However, certain sex offenses make individuals ineligible, including crimes involving children under 14.If granted a Certificate of Rehabilitation, the individual can apply for a gubernatorial pardon and, in some cases, removal from the sex offender registry. However, sex offenses involving children under 14 are ineligible for removal from the registry.
Understanding Certificates of Rehabilitation for Sex Registrants
California [Penal Code section 4852.01] 1 allows certain individuals convicted of offenses requiring sex offender registration to petition for a Certificate of Rehabilitation and be relieved of the registration requirement.To qualify, registrants must not be in custody, on parole, or on probation. They also must have successfully completed probation or parole, and received a dismissal under Penal Code section 1203.4. The offense cannot be one that absolutely bars relief, such as violent sex crimes against children.If granted, the court will notify the Department of Justice to terminate the duty to register. However, registrants must continue to register until they receive DOJ confirmation. Also, they must disclose the conviction when applying for state licenses or employment.
Petitioning for a Certificate of Rehabilitation
The petitioning process for a Certificate of Rehabilitation begins by obtaining the necessary forms from the court of conviction or residence. The forms include a detailed questionnaire about the individual’s residence history, employment history, and record of rehabilitation.The petitioner must serve notice on the District Attorney and publish notices of the petition in newspapers. There will be an investigation and hearing where the District Attorney can oppose the petition.If granted, the Certificate of Rehabilitation is forwarded to the Governor as an application for a gubernatorial pardon. There is no separate pardon application process.
Working with a Criminal Defense Lawyer
The petition process for Certificates of Rehabilitation is complex, with many specific eligibility requirements. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help determine eligibility, gather supporting evidence of rehabilitation, and guide individuals through the entire petition process.For sex offense registrants, lawyers can also advise if a Certificate of Rehabilitation could remove the registration requirement. If a sex crime conviction absolutely bars removal from the registry, then lawyers can counsel clients on other options, like a pardon application.
Alternative Options for Sex Offender Registrants
For sex offenses ineligible for Certificates of Rehabilitation, registrants can still apply directly to the Governor for a pardon. However, pardons are very rare, especially for serious sex crimes.Another option is a [Penal Code section 290.5] 2 petition to be removed from the registry. However, it also has strict eligibility requirements. The offense cannot involve force or violence. Also, the victim must have been at least 16 and the offender no more than 10 years older.Finally, in juvenile cases, certain sex offender registrants can petition for removal under [Penal Code section 781] 3. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can advise on the best options given the offense and the client’s rehabilitation efforts and circumstances.
Conclusion
Navigating sex crime convictions and registries is extremely complex, with many rigid requirements limiting relief. Certificates of Rehabilitation provide only limited relief in California, and are unavailable for many offenses.Having an advocate in your corner is critical. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can guide you through the process, present the strongest case for rehabilitation, and pursue alternative options when necessary. With compassionate counsel, many individuals can move forward in their lives despite past mistakes.
1
: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=4852.01.&lawCode=PEN[2]: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=290.5.&lawCode=PEN
: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=781.&lawCode=PEN