DC Date Rape Lawyer

Date rape is a commonly used term that has no legal definition. Date rape typically refers to non-consensual sexual activity involving individuals who are on a date or have a potentially sexual or romantic relationship. Allegations of date rape could impact an individual’s personal and professional life and do irreparable harm to their reputation. It is important that people who have been charged with a date rape offense, seek the services of a qualified DC date rape lawyer. A hardworking sex crimes attorney could mitigate the penalties that a person may face.

Situations That Constitute Date Rape

An example of a situation that might be considered date rape is a situation in which two people are romantically involved with each other to some varying degree and one person accuses the other person of engaging in some kind of non-consensual sexual activity. Drinking can also play an instrumental in date rape situations.

For example, two people might be on a date and during that date, they might have a couple of drinks. Afterward, sexual activity might occur, whether it is full intercourse or some other kind of sexual act. One of the two people accuses the other of performing those acts or engaging in that sexual contact without the consent of the other. The lack of consent on the allegation of non-consensual activity could be based on forcible sexual contact. It can also be based on the accuser claiming that they were intoxicated or otherwise not able to consent the sexual activity because of their level of intoxication.

Elements of Date Rape That Differentiate it From Other Types of Rape

The main difference between a date rape context and the context of other kinds of sexual abuse is the nature of the relationship between the two people involved. Most commonly when DC date rape lawyers are in a situation where they have been accused of some kind of date rape, the issue at hand is often not the identity of the people involved. Because in these situations, the two people involved frequently know each other. They may know each other to varying degrees. Sometimes, they may have known each other for years and be in a long-term relationship. In other situations, they may have met each other that night.

While this is not always the case, in many date rape situations the identity of the people involved is not as much of an issue as the question of whether the sexual activity was consensual, non-consensual, or whether it even took place at all.

Securing Evidence in Date Rape Cases

In situations where a DC date rape lawyer represents a person who has been accused of sexual abuse in a date rape context, one of the most complicated parts of representing people in these situations is the relationship between the people involved and the fact that other people involved may also know both parties to the allegation. That can result in sometimes allegations being made to common friends first, and allegations can then spread from there where they can sometimes change slightly between telling and the people involved may have very little control over how an allegation has been retold to other possible witnesses.

In these situations, DC date rape attorneys have to be careful about getting accurate information from people who could potentially witnesses. They need to fully explore what those witnesses saw or what they heard, and what the witness personally themselves as opposed to what they simply heard from other people. Another difficulty can be when they have an accuser and an accused who know each other that oftentimes friends who may be witnesses might not want to get involved. Sometimes, they do not want to be seen as taking sides or attacking a close friend. Finding witnesses who may be personally invested or personally involved in the relationship between an accuser and an accused person can make securing the involvement of those witnesses that much more complicated.

Value of a DC Date Rape Attorney

If you have you been charged with an acquaintance rape offense, speak with a skilled DC date rape lawyer that could devote the time and resources necessary to achieve a positive outcome for you. A qualified date rape attorney could collect the necessary evidence in order to begin building your case. Call today and know that you are in capable hands.