Child sexual abuse is any interaction between a child and an adult in which the child is used for the sexual stimulation of the perpetrator or an observer. Sexual abuse can include both touching and non-touching behaviors. Non-touching behaviors can include trying to look at a child’s naked body or exposing the child to pornography. Children of all ages, races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds may have experienced sexual abuses. Child sexual abuse affects both girls and boys.
Child molestation is one of the offenses under the law that depend on the victim’s youth. The offense occurs when a person has sexual contact with a person who is still a child.
The offense is also committed if the accused deliberately causes another person to have sexual contact with a child or by himself. The age range for the offense can vary from very little to sixteen year old young child.
“Sexual contact” does not refer to sex although. It means any touching of the intimate parts of a child if it is done for the purpose of having a sexual desire. It does not matter if the act was done to gratify the sexual desire. sometime the crime can only be detailed listened by the child molestation lawyer in Mississauga and studied well if the crime is worth trial or still needs some kind of other actual evidences.
One important aspect of this offense of child molestation is its “statutory” nature. This means that the charge can be applied even if the victim willingly engaged in the sexual act or even sought in the act of child molestation.
So long as the victim was under the age threshold of the offense, when they are not totally able to give the consent in this, This mostly applies to the offense in the first degree.
How Does Child Sex Abuse Happen ?
Sexual molestation, assault, and rape of children are widely considered among the vilest crimes, yet many of us may be thinking that the governments are trying their best to stop such crimes but as we can see in the news and other articles that many molestation cases are still happening.
Child molestation is usually charged in three degrees, with the offense ranging in seriousness from the first to the third degree.
First degree: This is the most serious charge in this category. this is committed when the victim is less than 12 years old and the accused is at least 3 years older than the victim in age.
Second degree: This degree of offense is committed in the second degree when the victim is at least 12 but less than 14 years. The accused must also be at least 3 years older than the victim.
Third degree: Although it carries the least serious penalties, child molestation in the third degree is also serious offense. The offense is committed when the victim is less than 14 years old and the accused who is at least 4 years older.
Child molestation Charges and sentence
Being arrested or charged with child molestation in Mississauga can land serious trouble for the accused. In Mississauga for the child molestation case the results of such a charge can be devastating for the accused for his whole life.
Sometimes you have to take care that even if you have not been arrested or the scenario of yet to be charged with an offense, mere rumors of child sexual abuse are damaging in themselves. More often the charges or the rumors only are life damaging for the accused and they are also very harsh for mental health as well. So need of the child molestation lawyers is much important for all the communities and people across the states.
Types of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Types of abuse include but aren’t limited to one but they are different types :
Exposing a child to sexual activity or sexual content either in person or online exposing
Producing, owning, or distributing child pornography
Rape
Sex trafficking or prostitution of a child
Sexual assault (including intercourse, fondling, masturbation of oneself, or forcing a minor to masturbate)
Sexual harassment
Using physical force or causing physical injury is not required for an act to be considered sexual abuse of a child. Legally, any sexual act between a child under the age of consent (which varies from country to country or even through the states) and an adult is considered sexual abuse because children cannot provide consent or they can not be taken as consent because of their age and not grown up to think.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Statistics
Research has shown that many children are affected by sexual abuse. There are also certain risk factors that may increase the likelihood of childhood sexual abuse.
About one in four girls and one in 13 boys experience sexual abuse at some point during childhood.
Studies show that children between the ages of 7 and 13 are the most vulnerable to childhood sexual abuse.
Parents or caregivers who witnessed violence as children, or who struggle with substance abuse currently, may end up perpetuating a cycle of abuse.
Single-parent homes, or families living in poverty with limited social supports, may be more vulnerable to sexual predators