Survivors of sexual assault and child sexual abuse often desire justice, but may not know how to find it. As a survivor, you may be struggling with troubling questions like:
Our Ohio sexual abuse victims' lawyers have made justice for survivors our life's mission. Contact our experienced sexual abuse attorneys today for a free, confidential case evaluation. We want to help.
If you or someone you care about recently became the victim of sexual violence, you may wonder how the offender might be punished by your state’s legal system. We’ve summarized the Ohio sexual assault laws and statutes below to give victims a better idea of how the criminal justice system handles these crimes.
Remember that both civil and criminal courts are available to help victims of sexual crimes. Criminal courts prosecute dangerous sexual predators and take them off the streets, while civil courts provide financial support for victims.
Our Ohio sexual assault victims’ lawyers help survivors acquire financial support and justice through the civil courts. If you feel that the criminal justice system has failed to provide the support you need or has failed to prosecute your offender, we can help you file a civil sexual abuse lawsuit.
These lawsuits also allow you to take legal action against negligent third parties who enabled the sexual abuse, such as:
From Cleveland and Akron to Columbus and Cincinnati, our dedicated legal team is here to help Ohio survivors step forward and pursue justice with confidence. Find more on how we can help in a free, confidential legal consultation today.
In Ohio, a person is guilty of rape in the first degree if he or she engages in sexual conduct (vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse) with another person under any of the following circumstances:
The sentence for rape in the first degree varies based on the specifics of the crime. If the victim is compelled to submit through force, threats, or controlled substances, the minimum sentence is 5 years in prison. If the victim is under 10 years old – life in prison. If the offender has a previous conviction, the sentence will be life in prison.
Someone can be convicted of sexual battery if he or she engages in sexual conduct with another person (other than their spouse) when any of the following criteria apply:
In most cases, sexual battery is a third-degree felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison. If the victim is younger than 13, the charge will be in the second degree and punishable by 2-8 years in prison
Anyone 18 years of age or older who engages in sexual conduct with another person between 13-15 years old is guilty of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. This crime can be charged in one of four degrees:
Sexual imposition is a crime which involves unwanted sexual contact, rather than sexual intercourse. a person is guilty of sexual imposition if he or she has sexual contact with another person or causes two or more other people to have sexual contact under any of the following circumstances:
For first-time offenders, sexual imposition is punishable by up to 60 days in prison. If the defendant has a previous conviction for rape, sexual battery, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, or gross sexual imposition, the sentence will be a maximum of 6 months in prison.
A person is guilty of the more serious charge of gross sexual imposition if he or she has sexual contact with another person, causes that person to have sexual contact with an offender, or causes two or more people to have sexual contact when any of the following applies:
In the first five examples, the charge will be a fourth-degree felony punishable by 6-18 months in prison. If any of the final three bulletpoints apply, the charge will be a third-degree felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison.