A Quick Guide To New Criminal Law Updates For 2022
Laws change and evolve, and California's criminal law is no exception. This also means that your access and approach to the legal system might need to change—which is especially crucial for sex crimes and the protection of rights.
So, here's a quick guide on the legal updates every client and California Criminal Lawyer should know:
What's New In California's Sex Crime Laws?
Laws are governed by how things are defined and phrased. These are crucial aspects of sex crimes, as they have different degrees of possible punishment and the way the case itself is handled in court.
The definitions for the crime and the facts of the case will also guide your Los Angeles Criminal Law Attorney on the best route to take.
Here are two of the most important changes to California Sex Crime Laws effective this 2022:
1. AB-453: Non-Consensual Condom Removal Is Now Considered Sexual Battery
This bill amends the existing civil sexual battery statute to include non-consensual condom removal (NCCR).
This bill adds NCCR to the existing civil sexual battery statute, making it a civil sexual battery for a person to:
Cause contact between a sexual organ (which a condom has been removed from) and the intimate part of another person who did not verbally consent to the removal of the condom.
Cause contact between an intimate part of a person and a sexual organ of another (which the person removed a condom from) without verbal consent.
2. AB-1171: Spousal Rape And Rape Has No Distinction Anymore
By abolishing the charge of spousal rape, this bill eliminates any distinctions between spousal rape and rape.
This law broadens the definition of rape to include the rape of a spouse. That used to be handled separately as "spousal rape" will now be taken to court in the same way as most rape cases.
If a guilty verdict is handed down, the convicted spouse is required to register as a sex offender. In most cases, it might also result in a state jail sentence.
Bottom-line
Laws change with time. There's a reason why we're no longer following old laws from decades ago and why we also have new laws as technology and society progresses.
This is why it's imperative for Los Angeles Criminal Law Attorneys keep a watchful eye on these changes. This is also why it's important for you to consult a pre-screened California Criminal Law Attorney so you don't forget or misunderstand the changing laws.
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