Category: Sexual Assault
In recent years, the internet has spurred a whole new area of crime. Increasingly, people use their computers to commit criminal offenses. These crimes range from identity theft and financial crimes to sex crimes like child pornography and solicitation of prostitution. Like other states, Texas punishes sex crimes that are carried out on the internet….
The dozens of allegations of sexual assault against infamous Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and other powerful men have raised many questions about how society approaches sexual assault and harassment in the workplace. One of the most common questions people have is whether a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) prohibits alleged sexual assault victims from speaking out publicly…
Human trafficking and sexual harassment are on the radar of Texas Governor Greg Abbott who published a new set of policy proposals this month. The Texas Governor proposed a wide-ranging blueprint that includes tackling the backlog of sexual assault kit testing in the state, sex trafficking and sexual harassment at the Texas statehouse. The news…
A series of sexual misconduct cases has led to a call from campaigners for the closure of all secure facilities for young people run by the state. Advocates from a wide range of groups pulled few punches in their demand for the closure of the controversial facilities. The Texas Tribune reported the groups wrote a…
Sex crimes are among the most difficult and problematic offenses for prosecutors, victims and defendants alike. People charged with sex offenses typically suffer serious social stigma even before conviction. However, these offenses are often based on uncorroborated statements of young victims which are not always reliable. In one Texas city, the role of the police…
Mistrials happen for a variety of reasons. The Bill Cosby sexual assault case has dominated headlines over the past year. The case is complicated, as it involves thorny questions about statutes of limitations and whether Cosby previously admitted or acknowledged that he engaged in some of the behavior the plaintiffs accuse him of. When the…
Legislators are seeking tougher measures to combat sexual assault on Texas college campuses, but there is a lack of consensus about how to proceed. State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, submitted Senate Bill 576. The legislation would require school employees and student leaders to “promptly” report instances of sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking or family violence…
At the time of the men’s arrest, police interrogators threatened them with the death penalty. As reported in the Washington Post, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe recently pardoned four men who were wrongfully convicted of the 1997 sexual assault and murder of an 18-year-old woman. The police detective in charge of the original investigation is now…
Those who oppose the law claim it has a chilling effect on the First Amendment. It may be hard to believe, but the social networking site Facebook has only been around since 2004. Since its founding, it has accumulated 1.86 billion monthly active users. The site has become a popular way to communicate with friends,…
An expanding investigation and allegations of a cover up of alleged sexual assaults at Baylor University in Texas have led to calls for Governor Greg Abbott to direct the Texas Rangers to investigate. Last week, Rep. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) filed a bill in the Texas House of Representatives urging the governor to get the…