Picture this: You’ve just finished your final undergrad exams. So, you, and your classmates, decided to throw a party to celebrate this milestone. A lot happened and you found yourself intimate with one of your classmates. Sometime later they accuse you of raping them.
Date rape or acquaintance rape claims are not uncommon, especially among young people. However, you need to understand that this is a big deal with severe consequences if you are convicted. But when exactly can you be accused of date rape?
Understanding date rape
Date rape claims generally involve individuals who are well-known to each other but are not in any form of romantic relationship. An example of this would be classmates or co-workers who engage in sexual activity following an evening party that involves alcohol.
You and the other party may differ over whether there was consent. If either of the following is true, it increases the chance a court will see the encounter as non-consensual:
If your accuser was drunk – From a legal standpoint, an inebriated individual cannot consent to a sexual act. Thus, if you wake up in bed with someone following a party that involved alcohol or some intoxicating substance, they might accuse you of date rape.
If traces of date rape drugs are found in your accuser’s system – When your accuser files a report, part of the evidence the prosecution will examine is their medical report. If traces of date rape drugs like Valium and Rohypnol, or even sleep drugs, are found in their system, you might find yourself in serious trouble.
If accused of date rape, you need to take it seriously. Find out how sound legal representation can help you safeguard your rights and interests.