>>512766385 (OP)
It changes your life permanently in most cases, but not necessarily to the point that life is never good again. In the US if you had a lot of CP or investigation is too far back in the queue they'll move it to federal, in which case you'll be looking at 20 years in low security prison (which is hell for pedos) unless the attorney can knock it down to the 5 year minimum. Then you'll release with lifetime supervision.
But people caught with less and living in the right states seem to be getting a few years before they go on probation and only 5-10 years in some cases of having to register, more years supervised, but the rule of "No internet access" only lasts for 5 years in some cases, but it's that hardest part of getting out of prison.
In nordic countries it's also getting worse but people only used to get a few months and a few parole check-ins. Soon they're getting probably a year minimum, and lifetime police access to search their house whenever they feel like it.