Sexual Assault
Stealthing” May be Classified as a Sexual Assault Crime in California
California lawmakers are reportedly seeking to expand the state’s legal definition of sexual assault by changing the felony sexual battery statute to include the act of “stealthing.” Most people have never heard of this behavior, but it a serious concern, leaving men and women in fear of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Stealthing…
Read MoreSexual Assaults on College Campuses Go Largely Unreported
It is that time of year when college students head back to campus for a brand new semester of studying, socializing, and partying. Sadly, many of these college students will also experience the physical and psychological pain of being sexually assaulted. Even more disturbing is the fact that large numbers of these incidents will go…
Read MoreLegislators Ask Taxpayers to Help Fund Rape Kit Testing
The United States Department of Justice estimates that hundreds of thousands of rape kits sit untested in law enforcement laboratories across the nation. Finances contribute heavily to this backlog, with each kit costing about $1000 to test. Though California lawmakers have made several attempts to jumpstart the testing process, efforts have thus far proved inadequate…
Read MoreCalifornia Pastor Accused of Multiple Sexual Assault Crimes
Police reportedly arrested a Menlo Park pastor recently on accusations of sexual assault against adults and children. As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, police began investigating these incidents after several of the alleged victims reported the 46-year-old pastor to authorities. His list of charges ranges from misdemeanors to felonies, including: Sexual penetration with a…
Read MoreThe Stigmatization of Male Sexual Assault Victims
Sexual assault is a serious issue within our society. Every day, innocent victims are subjected to violent and senseless sex crimes at the hands of perpetrators—some they know and some they don’t know. Though it receives much less attention, sexual assault of males is a common occurrence. Unfortunately, these male victims are often stigmatized upon…
Read MoreLGBT Sexual Abuse Statistics Fall Short of Actual Incident Rates
Throughout the last 20 years, the justice system has made great strides in the area of sexual assault. Rape shield laws, increased penalties, and wrap-around services have all led to improved reporting of these horrific incidents. Yet, there is still a long way to go before all victims of sexual violence feel comfortable enough to…
Read MoreLos Angeles Attorneys Explain Key Issues in Date Rape Cases
In California, “Rape is an act of sexual intercourse accomplished with a person not the spouse of the perpetrator, under any of the following circumstances: Where a person is incapable, because of a mental disorder or developmental or physical disability, of giving legal consent…. Where it is accomplished against a person s will by means…
Read MoreAfter Fifteen Years’ Worth of Sexual Assault Allegations, an LA Doctor May Finally Face Justice
The first allegation came in 2001, but it took another 15 years before the Los Angeles Police Department could charge Dr. Michael Howard Popkin with a crime. According to NBC News, the 67-year-old GP is facing “one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Patient and three counts of Sexual Battery, said Los Angeles Police Department’s…
Read MoreSexual assault survey with relevance to college campuses unveiled
We have noted the sad reality regarding sexual assault of women generally and the particularly high level of sex-based crimes against females that occur on American campuses across the country in prior select blog posts. We noted in a recent post entry, for example, the rather astounding report that “about 20 percent of female college…
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