Statutory Sexual Assault

There are debates on whether or not the laws for statutory rape are strict enough. The age of consensual sex varies from state to state. In some states the age of consent is 16 while others start at the age of 17. Though many of these teens may be physically ready to engage in sex, many of them are not mentally prepared. In their article, “Enforce Statutory Rape Laws to Curb Teen Sex”, Kathleen Sylvester and Jonathan O’Connell talk about relationships between 12, 13 and 14 year old girls and sexually mature men who are inherently unequal, often coercive and almost always damaging. Many of these girls find themselves engaging in sexual activities with much older men. Until stricter laws are put into place, as well as parents explaining these

In most cases, 16 continues to be the age of consent, yet if the complainant is 14 or 15 and the accused is no older than 19 or 20, the complainant can consent in this situation. Be aware that days and months are included in the calculation when determining if there is less than a five year age difference between the two. An experienced attorney can be of assistance if there are any questions regarding sexual consent or any charge regarding a crime of a sexual nature.

The perspective offered by such longitudinal data sheds remarkable light on the "problem" of statutory rape, identifying for us key markers, as well as key actors, in the history of the law's enforcement and helping us to understand their roles in constructing the meaning of this crime over successive generations. ... The statutory rape codes have been used at various times to reinforce fathers' interests in their daughters' marriageability, to protect young women's chastity from seductive men, to control promiscuous or disease-laden adolescent females, to enhance child support collection efforts, to reduce teenage pregnancy, and to identify and punish sexual exploitation of teenagers. ... Given the constant state of jockeying, compromise and

Statutory rape laws assume that a person is not capable of consenting sex. Even if a person consents the law of sex assume that they do not have the capacity to consent. statutory rape is different from child molestation as there is not force. Marriage is excluded from the law as an older individual is able to marry someone who is under age as long they obtain consent from their parents. Andre clark discussion of california’s statutory rape laws demonstrates the distinctions made for marriage in the law as statutory rape is described as an ‘’act of sexual intercourse intercourse accomplished with a female not the wife of the perpetrator, where the female in under the age of 18 years’’ (P.1933). Statutory rape laws can also serve to protect those who are mentally incapacitated and be may be at a developmental age lower than their actual age however this can be difficult to prove. While statutory rape laws are currently in place to protect minors

The New York Times article “What Experts Know About Men Who Rape,” author Heather Murphy focuses on the commonalities in the men who commit sexual assaults. Murphy states that the similarities don’t fall into traditional demographic categories. Studies find that men begin assaulting early in life, may associate with others who commit sexual violence, and typically deny that they have raped women even though they admit to having nonconsensual sex. Identifying these traits could help stop future assaults.

up to 14 years imprisonment; and aggravated sexual assault – victim is wounded, disfigured or life is in endanger – is level 3 which is punishable by up to life imprisonment (Brennan & Taylor-Butts, 2008: 7). Moreover, because of this new amendment, questions about survivor’s past sexual history and sexual reputation are now restricted. The word ‘rape’ was taken out and replaced with sexual assault. The purpose for changing the terminology was to obviate the moral stigma associated with the word 'rape'. This also supported the fact that men could also be victimized because penetration was not required in order to prove the sexual assault. Now both men and women are given rights to equal treatment under the law (Handbook, 2007:4-5).

What is sexual abuse? Sexual abuse is the unwanted sexual contact between two or more adults or two or more minors, any sexual contact between and adult and a minor, any unwanted sexual contact initiated by a youth toward and adult and any sexual contact between two minors with significant age difference between the two of them (COSM.org) The research on sex offenders continues to be an ongoing study. Since about 1969 the crimes associated with sex offenses have been in the spotlight, but more so in recent years. Crimes involving sex assaults have many labels. Crimes associated with these offenses are known as rape, child molestation, pedophilia, sexual assault, and child pornography. Charges on sex offenses differ from state to state in regards to punishment. Sexual assault can involve physical contact which involves unwanted touching, penetration, etc. Sexual assault also includes no physical contact which would include sexual solicitation through the internet as well as sexual advances via internet, or cell phone etc.

PER REPORTER: The step-father is not suppose to be in the home. He was convicted of statutory rape. He is suppose to be the father to one of the mother's daughter's child. Mom goes to pick him up and sneaks him in late nights. There are concerns for the children. If he was convicted of rape before, he is not suppose to be there. He will probably do it again. It's possibly the oldest daughter that he raped. She is may be 14 years old. It has been reported. The step-father just bonded out of jail. He is waiting to go back to be sentenced. He has been charged with it. Reporter stated the mother and step-father know he is not suppose to be in the home. Reporter doesn't want the children to be in danger. The child shouldn't have to go through that

So many young people today are walking around uninformed and uneducated about sex laws. As a result, more and more young people are finding themselves involved in situations they shouldn’t be in. This infographic covers, age of consent, what constitutes consent, aiding and abetting and much more. The Law Offices of Keren Goldenberg encourages everyone to stay informed about the sex laws in your area, but even more so to protect the teens and young people in your life by talking to them about protecting themselves as well as avoiding situations they may be sexually assaulted. If you have any other questions about sex laws in Massachusetts please call my

Statutory rape is a legal matter in which an individual has sexual intercourse with a minor. Although the statutory rape law is to protect any individual from being sexually abused by an older individual sexual assault is mainly geared towards protecting women. Even though having sex with a minor is illegal it is possible in some states to have sex with a minor with valid consent. If an individual is caught having sexual intercourse with a minor the penalties may result in serving time in a state penitentiary or a correctional facility. Statutory rape is patronizing to girls and recriminating to boys because, many individuals believe that girls do not have the mental composite to consent to sexual activities, but boys have uncontrollable

The relationship also falls under the status of Lewd and lascivious conduct which is sexual touching between an adult and a minor younger than 16 years old or an adult soliciting a minor younger than 16 to engage in sexual touching. Persons 18 and older penalties include two years and six months and up to 15 years in prison. The minimum punishment may probation without jail time if the adult is convicted of solicitation but no actual sexual contact.

Several states have also participated in the “Romeo and Juliet Law “this law intention is to protect young sexual offenders who are close in age to their victims and engage in consensual sex ,from registering as sexual offenders. However Florida, have done this using a motion or petition process for registration relief, some have provided age-gap provisions. Some states has legalize certain sexual condition between minors, and /or those close in age to avoid not only registration requirement but to avoid but the criminal charge previously

Age of sexual consent refers to the age when an individual can consent to sexual activity. Sexual activities are defined differently by countries, with there even being a difference between the United States and Canada who share a border. The ages of consent also vary among countries and also by individual state in the United States. Engaging in sexually activities with individuals that are not the legal age of consent can result in criminal charges such as statutory rape, but many places have exceptions. These exceptions include certain gaps in age varying place to place, as well as the defense of not knowing the actual age of the victim.

You may be asking, “What exactly is statutory rape?” Statutory rape refers to sexual relations involving the age of consent. People below the age of consent cannot legally consent to having sex. That means that sex with them technically violates the law. Some teens don 't even realize that they have broken the law.

First is Maryland, the age of consent is 16 years and anybody who is under 16 cannot consent