Rape Charges in Georgia and Their Significance
Augusta GA Rape Defense Lawyer
Rape is defined as non consensual sexual intercourse with another person. Rape is a criminal offense and the accused if convicted can look at anything between ten to twenty years of imprisonment. It is very often observed that rape is used as synonymous with sexual abuse or sexual assault.
Legally, rape includes more than just assault and abuse. General categories of rape charges are:
• Rape – sexual intercourse with another person without her consent.
• Attempted rape / Sexual battery / Sexual assault – forceful sexual contact with another person.
• Acquaintance rape / Date rape – rape wherein the accused is known to victim and they share a relationship.
• Spousal rape / marital rape – rape within a married couple in a marriage. Usually, such charges are levied during a contested divorce.
• Statutory rape – minor is subjected to sexual assault. Even if sexual contact was consensual, the law does not consider anyone below age of 16 to be allowed to given consent for sexual acts.
• Rape committed by a Juvenile – accused is under age and hence different considerations are given to him as opposed to an adult rape accused.
It must be noted however that, sexual assaults on men are not considered as rape and are classified under sexual assaults or other sex offenses based on injuries sustained and type of crime. When we talk about consent by an individual, the person must be an adult and should be of normal mental and physical capacities. Thus ‘against her will’ would be extrapolated to include, inability to understand and comprehend the consequences of giving consent to sexual activity due to temporary or permanent physical or mental immaturity.