We’ve all seen the horror stories in fictional movies and on “reality” TV, but what is prison really like for people who have been convicted of a sex crime? Is it as terrible as the entertainment industry wants us to believe?
A Word on Sex Crimes
If you’re reading this because you’ve been charged with a sex crime, now is not the time to panic. With a talented Milwaukee criminal defense lawyer in your corner, you have the best chance of fighting a conviction. An attorney may be able to build a solid defense on your behalf and help make the entire process easier on you. The emotional trauma of being charged with any kind of sex crime can be severe, so it’s helpful to know that you have someone in your corner.
It’s important to note that the term “sex crime” is kind-of an umbrella. It can include any number of things, from soliciting a prostitute to making lewd, obscene or indecent drawings (really, that’s in Wisconsin’s law books). It also includes rape, incest and the possession of child pornography. There are varying degrees of sex offenses.
What Happens to Sex Offenders in Prison?
In some cases, people convicted of sex crimes aren’t sent to prison. Instead, they’re sent to mental health facilities. Governor Scott Walker signed legislation in February of this year that effectively released many sex offenders from mental health facilities across the state under the condition that they continue to receive treatment and monitoring.
However, some sex crime convictions do end up with a prison term. It’s important that you know the state and the corrections officers employed by the state have the duty to protect all inmates. If you are not automatically sent to a segregated unit, you can request to be sent to one if you feel threatened.
The truth is that everyone’s experience in prison is different; there are so many variables. So what can you do? Express your concerns to your Milwaukee sex crimes lawyer and ask that he or she make a request to the judge that you’re sent to a particular facility if you are convicted.
