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An Overview of Child Molestation Laws: Protecting the Innocent from Abuse
Article by Daniel Beasley
The legal term of child molestation involves a very specific act against a child under the age of legal consent. The laws around child molestation are well defined and precise. Even with such clear definitions there is still a great deal of confusion about the legal definitions of a child molester.
The simplest method of understanding the foundation of child molestation laws is to start with the primary rule that it is illegal for any adult to touch any part of a child’s body with a lewd or lascivious intent. Where child molestation is concerned, the term “consent” is never a consideration, federal and state laws do not recognize a child capable of issuing consent for any sexual acts.
In addition to the idea of physically touching a child, the laws around child molestation will also include offenses ranging from statutory rape and sexual assault to matters of incest, indecent exposure, and child pornography.
The penalties for acts of child molestation vary from state to state, and incident to incident. For example, statutory rape is a charge against an individual above the age of consent having sexual contact or intercourse with a person under the age of consent. The act may not receive a charge of child molestation due to certain extenuating circumstances, such as the consent of the victim, who may be near to the legal age limit.
Out of all the crimes committed, it is believed that child molestation is the one that will go unreported for the most number of occurrences. This is due to the age of the victim and many issues of fear and shame.
Individuals convicted of child molestation are among the most despised, and come under scrutiny for repeating their offenses. Many laws are under constant revision, aiming to eliminate or reduce the societal risk of possible re-offenders.
About the Author
Sexual abuse lawyers are familiar with the ins and outs of child molestation laws. If you are interested in pursuing legal action against another party, speak with a personal injury attorney to find out if you have a case.
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