Category: Sexual Assault

There are many crimes that may sound similar on their face, but once you dig a little deeper into the law, you see that they are very different. In North Carolina, sexual assault and assault on a female are two of those crimes.

While these crimes may sound alike, the truth is that there are major differences – both in the elements of the crimes and the penalties that can result in being found guilty of them.

Here is what you need to know about the difference between sexual assault and assault on [...]

 

Whether you’re married, dating, separated, living together, or divorced, sexual intercourse with another person through the use of force or without their consent is illegal in the state of North Carolina. It doesn’t matter if you’ve had intercourse with them previously – you must have their consent to have intercourse with them each time.

This type of situation often comes into play with marital rape. In North Carolina, it is a crime that can carry with it severe penalties. Don’t assume that a partner or former partner can be coerced or forced [...]

Until very recently (in 2019, to be exact), North Carolina had a loophole in its sexual consent laws knowns as the “Right to Finish.” This loophole meant that many women who felt they were raped never got the justice they deserved. 

Now that the loophole has been closed, sexual consent in North Carolina means something new. Here’s what you need to know about the changes in the law and what it means.

What Was the Law in North Carolina?

The loophole that was recently closed was based on a court decision from 1979 [...]

UNC recently released survey results regarding the campus climate on sexual misconduct and sexual assault. The statistics are staggering. Forty-five percent of undergraduate women reported they’d experienced some type of non-consensual sex during their time at the University of North Carolina. Nearly half.

Even with the heightened awareness and an ever-increasing prevalence of these occurrences across the nation, these numbers are still shocking. Among other findings, the UNC report also said: 

  • At least a third of UNC female undergrads are sexually assaulted during college.  
  • 1 in 5 UNC undergraduate women experience rape.
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As spotlights start to shine on sexual assault cases across the country, more questions come up about what could happen if you are accused. Sex crimes are very serious and can have a major impact on the rest of your life, including where you are allowed to live and work.

The penalties for sexual assault in North Carolina depend on a number of factors, including the sex acts involved. A major factor in sex charges and penalties is the age of the victim. Once a victim reaches the age of 18, most of [...]