Those convicted of sex-related offenses are subject to some of the toughest and most comprehensive penalties that the justice system has to offer. They regularly receive lengthy prison sentences, are often forced to register as sex offenders (making their name, address and employment information public record) and are stigmatized in other ways, all in the name of preventing the commission of future crimes.

Unfortunately, information recently provided by the California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCSO) shows that the fear of recidivism is greatly exaggerated when compared with actual data collected by tracking convicted sex offenders. The difference between reality and perception is staggering: a 2004 law enforcement study revealed that approximately one-quarter of convicted offenders tracked re-offended, but the public assumes a recidivism rate of about 75 percent.

The huge gap between actual re-offense rates and misinformation reveals that the tens of millions of dollars the state of California spends annually to track convicted sex offenders via GPS and electronic monitoring could probably be better used elsewhere. The CCSO advocates a very different approach, one focusing not so much on containing or tracking offenders who have already "done their time," but instead focusing on educating the public. When there are programs in place to educate the public about the actual risks posed by convicted sex offenders and to rehabilitate the offenders themselves, the recidivism rate is much lower.

Even though the CCSO advocates a different approach to preventing sex offenders from committing future crimes, the laws on the books governing the punishment of sex offenders are very strict. If you or a loved one is facing sex crime charges, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney at your side as soon as possible to protect your rights and start mounting an aggressive defense on your behalf.

Many who believe themselves to be innocent decide to speak with police, Child Protective Services, or other investigators in the mistaken belief they can convince them of their innocence. This is generally a mistake, as the investigators have probably already concluded about their case, and are there only to gather evidence against them. Even denials of abuse can be used against you if there are slight differences in what you say and what other witnesses may have said. Trained investigators are very good at gathering evidence against even the innocent. Do not speak to them alone. Call a qualified criminal defense attorney before making any statements to anybody.