Sexual Offenses
Sexual Offenses
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Rape Laws, Defenses and Penalties
Rape is sexual intercourse that is forced on another without the person’s consent or against the person’s will. This act is criminalized throughout the United States, but the legal term for it varies from state to state.
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Sexual assault perpetrated by an acquaintance, such as a date, is still rape. A relationship between the victim and defendant doesn't negate the crime. But issues of proof can make these cases hard to prove.
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Sexual Assault Laws and Penalties
The term sexual assault, in layperson terms, usually refers to an attack on a person that is sexual in nature. The legal definition of this term actually differs, however, from state to state.
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Aggravated Sexual Assault Charges and Penalties
Aggravated sexual assault or rape is defined as some form of sexual penetration on another against the person's will and without their consent.
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Sexual Misconduct Laws, Charges, & Defenses
A person in a position of power commits the crime of sexual misconduct by taking advantage of that position to enter into a sexual relationship with a person under his or her authority.
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In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court declared sodomy laws unconstitutional. Historically, sodomy (usually defined as oral and anal sex) was a crime in many states, even when the acts were performed in private, between two consenting adults.
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If you are convicted of a crime, including a sex crime, you may want to appeal the verdict. During the appeals process, the convicted person asks an appellate court to review and overturn the judge or jury’s decision or sentence.
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Incest Laws and Criminal Charges
An overview on the legalities of incest, different forms of acts of incest which are considered illegal, pressing charges for incest, defenses, penalties that may occur, and how a lawyer can help.
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Public Lewdness: Laws & Penalties
Public lewdness refers to indecent or obscene behavior in public. These laws protect society from public conduct considered immoral and inappropriate.
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Is Sexual Harassment in the Workplace a Crime?
Sexual harassment, if accomplished by acts that are crimes, can become a criminal matter.
Sexual Offender Laws & Penalties
Sexual Offender Laws & Penalties
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Federal Registration and Civil Commitment Laws for Sex Offenders
In recent years, the federal government enacted laws that created a nationwide sex offender database and required every state to meet new, more stringent registration standards under their own sex offender laws.
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State Sex Offender Registration
Sex offenders must register periodically with state authorities for years after release, and their status as a sex offender affects and limits many aspects of their lives.
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State Civil Commitment for Sex Offenders
Sex offender registration is one of the post-sentence penalties that states impose on people convicted of certain sexual offenses. Twenty states (and the federal government) also have “sexual predator” laws.
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Can Registered Sex Offenders Be Barred From Using Social Media?
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a law preventing registered sex offenders from using social media such as Facebook and Instagram.
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Steps to Take If You Are Accused of Child Molestation
Here are some important steps to take if you've been falsely accused of this serious crime.
Questions & Answers About Sex Crimes
Questions & Answers About Sex Crimes
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Caught Having Sex in Public: Laws, Charges, and Penalties
In most states, the laws that criminalize public sex make it a misdemeanor. Some state laws explicitly criminalize public sexual activity. Other laws are broader and cover a variety of indecent or lewd conduct.
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I'm Being Charged with Rape: What Should I Do?
A rape charge is a serious felony charge with severe penalties. Here's what to do if you are facing rape charges, the possible consequences if you are convicted, and how a lawyer could help.
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In a Rape Case, Can a Defendant Bring up Their Accuser's Sexual History?
In most, but not all rape cases, the defendant cannot introduce evidence of the victim's sexual history in an attempt to disprove the prosecution's case.
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Differences Between Rape, Sexual Battery, and Sexual Assault
Rape, sexual assault, and sexual battery are often used interchangeably in the law and by laypersons. What sexual assault means in one state might not be the same in another state. Learn how to distinguish these crimes.
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Can someone be convicted of raping a person with whom he had consensual sex in the past?
It is possible to commit the crime of rape against someone with whom you have previously had consensual sex. It is even possible for a sexual encounter to begin as consensual and become an act of rape. When Does Consensual Sex Become Rape? The crime of rape consists of committing a sexual act (usually
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Sexual Battery: Laws and Penalties
Sexual battery or criminal sexual contact is sexual conduct that does not involve penetration or sodomy, but does involve physical contact of a sexual nature without the other person’s consent.
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Can I be charged with sexual battery when I mistakenly touched the complaining witness?
It is possible to be charged with sexual battery if you touched someone in an intimate part of the person’s body, even if it was a mistake. However, being charged with a crime does not mean you will be convicted, and mistake is a defense that is available to a defendant facing almost any type of criminal charge.
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Sexual Battery in Florida refers to sex crimes not typically covered by rape statutes, such as unlawful sexual contact. Sexual battery is often characterized as sexual touching or penetration without consent...
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Ohio Rape and Sexual Battery Laws
A person who commits rape or sexual battery in Ohio can face serious criminal penalties, including lengthy terms of imprisonment and hefty fines.
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Rape—any nonconsensual sexual intercourse— between non-spouses has always been illegal. However, until 1975, every state had a “marital exemption” that allowed a husband to rape his wife without fear of legal consequences.
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The History of Marital Rape Laws
Marital rape was a term that was viewed by the law as an oxymoron until shamefully late in U.S. history. Until the 1970’s, the rape laws in every state in the union included an exception if the rapist and the victim were husband and wife.
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Is Solicitation of Prostitution Illegal?
Depending on the state, solicitation of prostitution can mean either when a prostitute advertises their availability to perform sexual acts for compensation or when a potential patron offers to pay for sex, or both
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Under most states and counties in the United States prostitution is illegal and punishable as a misdemeanor in most cases. Prostitution is defined as the act of offering, agreeing to or engaging in sexual acts or sexual contact for compensation.
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Prostitution, Pimping, and Pandering
Pimping and pandering laws are designed to curb prostitution—and to protect people who might take part in it—by punishing those who exploit, facilitate, or knowingly benefit from the sex trade.
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How Do Police Uncover Prostitution Rings?
Law enforcement agencies often use -- and courts usually allow -- “sting” operations, where officers go undercover to catch people involved in the sex trade. Sting operations are a practical response to the way prostitution is carried out.
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Prostitution is illegal in 49 of the 50 states, Nevada being the sole exception. Those who oppose the criminalization of prostitution typically advocate one of two approaches: legalization (which involves regulation) or decriminalization (no regulation).
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Transmitting an STD: Criminal Laws & Penalties
Criminal transmission of an STD crimes commonly encompass different types of diseases. State laws typically include both HIV as well as other communicable or contagious sexually transmitted diseases.