Michigan CSC Crimes
Contents
The Criminal Sexual Conduct (aka CSC) Act is divided up into Four Degrees (decreasing in statutory penalty as the degrees become larger. They are commonly referred as follows:
- CSC – First Degree, i.e. CSC 1, which carries with it any term of years in jail if convicted.
- CSC – Second Degree, i.e. CSC 2, which carries a possible 15-year maximum jail term and registration and possible electronic monitoring if the victim is less than 13-years old and the defendant is 17-years or older.
- CSC – Third Degree, i.e. CSC 3, which carries a possible 15-year maximum jail term and registration.
- CSC – Fourth Degree, i.e. CSC 4, which carries a possible 2-year maximum jail term and registration.
The variation in which specific degree of CSC that would be charged in any individual case is based upon the absence or presence of statutory circumstances or facts. The CSC act differentiates the degrees of CSC based upon whether there are assault that affect or intent to affect body cavities, i.e. sexual penetration or sexual contact. See People v Bristol and MCL 750.520a(m), (l), respectively. Sexual penetration crimes will fall under degrees CSC 1 and CSC 3, while the sexual contact crimes fall under the degrees CSC 2 and CSC 4. See MCL 750.520b-e.
Michigan CSC Crimes – Serious Charges, Requiring Competent Counsel
It is imperative that you obtain counsel if or when you are faced with any Michigan CSC crime. Michigan CSC crimes range from Felonies (CSC 1 through 3) to a high-court misdemeanor (CSC 4). The possible jail sentences and fines for these particular crimes are severe and could require monitoring and/or registering with the state as a sex offender. See MCL 750.520b-e. Moreover, CSC cases will be very fact specific, which means these cases need to be handled with care.
The CSC Act also encompasses Assaultive Offenses, which too can have a negative impact on individual futures and lives if he or she is convicted of or pleads guilty to Michigan CSC crimes and has prior assaultive crimes on his or her criminal record. Assaultive crimes will also be broken down in act involving sexual penetration or sexual contact. The following are both categories of Assaultive crimes found in the CSC Act:
- Assault with intent to commit CSC involving sexual penetration. See MCL 750.520g(1).
- Assault with intent to commit CSC II—contact. See MCL 750.520g(2).
Moreover, Michigan CSC crimes can be confused with or for attempted Michigan CSC crimes. Therefore, this is just another reason why counsel is so imperative and important in these situations. You must maintain your rights throughout every step of the crime process, especially when facing a severe crime such as CSC.
Michigan CSC Crimes & Sex Offender Registration
The Sex Offenders Registration Act (aka SORA) was created for “a person who has been convicted of committing an offense covered by this act poses a potential serious menace and danger to the health, safety, morals, and welfare of the people, and particularly the children, of this state.” See MCL 28.721a. But who is placed on the list?
If the individual conviction is for a crime that is specifically indicated in the act and designated as a “listed offense,” which inevitably falls within a specific “tier.” then registry requirements will ensue. There tiers are separated by the seriousness of the offense, the time length of required registration, and on whether the individual’s personal information will be listed on a public website. Therefore, the punishment for conviction of a CSC will be based upon the facts of the individual case and the criminal history of the individual defendant.
