Sexual Assault: Facts and Questions
What Is Considered Sexual Assault In Texas?
How Long Do You Go To Prison For Sexual Assault In Texas?
What Is The Difference Between Rape And Sexual Assault In Texas?
What Is The Difference Between Sexual Assault And Sexual Harassment In Texas?
The main difference between sexual harassment and sexual assault is that sexual assault is a crime. Sexual harassment is a civil matter. The majority of sexual harassment claims arise from workplace disputes. Federal employment laws and Texas state laws all prohibit certain types of sexual harassment in the workplace.
When an employee experiences a hostile work environment or quid pro quo sexual harassment, they can bring a claim against the employer. If the sexual harassment victim succeeds, they can be entitled to compensatory damages in the form of money, as well as restitution through getting their job back if they have been fired.
In sex crimes cases, the state of Texas has a right to bring charges against the perpetrator by prosecuting them in a criminal court. If the prosecution successfully convinces the court that the defendant has committed sexual assault, the defendant will be sentenced accordingly.
What Is Considered Statutory Rape In Texas?
Statutory rape is defined as sexual activity between a person 18 or older and a person under the age of 17. Even if the two parties consent to sexual activities, it is still considered illegal in Texas. A person under the age of 17 is below the age of consent. Under Texas law, people under this age are considered legally incapable of consenting to sexual activity. As mentioned above, statutory rape is included in Texas has sexual assault law and is referred to as sexual assault.
Several different crimes fall under the statutory rape umbrella, and each one of the crimes has its penalties. These crimes include indecency with a child, sexual assault, and aggravated sexual assault. Indecency with a child refers to an adult engaging in sexual touching meant to gratify or arouse the sexual desire of a person with a minor under age 17. Those convicted face up to 20 years in jail.
What Is The Minimum Sentence For Rape In Texas?
What Is The Average Sentence For Rape In Texas?
What Is The Romeo And Juliet Law In Texas?
The Romeo and Juliet law is an exception to Texas’s statutory rape laws. This exemption allows teenagers and young adults who engage in sexual activity with teens under the age of consent to avoid being classified as sex offenders. Some young adults engaged in consensual sex with teenagers under 17 have protection from prosecution and are exempted from registering as sex offenders. This exemption requires the following four conditions to be met:
- Both parties consent to the sexual relations
- Neither party is a registered sex offender
- The other party is at least 14 years old, and
- There is no more than a three year age gap between the two individuals
For example, suppose an 18-year-old has sex with a 16-year-old. In this scenario, the Romeo and Juliet law will protect the 18-year-old from being prosecuted for sexual assault. However, if a 20-year-old has sex with a 16-year-old, the 20-year-old could be prosecuted because they are more than three years older than the minor party.