What You Need To Know About Sexual Assault In Utah

How Common Is Sexual Assault in Utah?

According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, there were just over 5,400 reports of sexual assault in 2022. That number comes from adding the different crimes reported that fit under the sexual assault umbrella.

In a 2007 survey by the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, 28.9% of women who responded said they had experienced sexual assault and 17.3% said they were raped. 

Utah’s Punishments For Sexual Assault

The punishment that follows a sexual assault conviction depends on the details of the assault. Here are a few of the biggest ones:

  • Rape: A person commits this crime when they have sexual intercourse without the consent of the other person. It is a first degree felony, which means prison time of five years to life and a possible fine of up to $10,000. However, the sentence can be bumped up to 15 years to life if the perpetrator caused serious bodily injury.
  • Forcible Sodomy: A person commits this crime when they force their genitals on either the mouth or anus of another person without consent. Like rape, this is a first-degree felony, and the sentence can be bumped up to 15 years to life if the perpetrator caused serious bodily injury.
  • Sexual Battery: A person commits this crime when they touch another person’s private parts in a way that would cause alarm to the person being touched. This crime is a class A misdemeanor, meaning up to 364 days in jail and a possible fine of up to $2,500.

What If Someone Makes a False Report?

When it comes to sexual assault, false reports do occur. They have been estimated to be 2-10% of reported cases. In fact, more than half of all wrongful convictions can be traced back to a false allegation or false testimony. Further the National Registry of Exonerations found that a Black person incarcerated for sexual assault is three-and-a-half times more likely to be innocent than a white person convicted of sexual assault. 

Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat have seen many false reports in their practice. In fact, the law firm has successfully helped people get acquitted and recover the monetary losses that resulted from them. 

If you have been accused of sexual assault, they would be able to help you too. For a free consultation, call (801) 532-5297.

Sources:

More Articles

Federal Crimes: How Do I Defend Myself Against Federal Prosecutors?
If you are the subject of a federal crime investigation, chances are you won’t know until the prosecution has already gathered most of the evidence. You should find an experienced lawyer to defend you quickly, because once federal agents have gathered their evidence, they will try to get a confession out of you. Your best rule of thumb is to use your right to remain silent around any federal officers because they may use what you say at any time as a confession.
Read More →
What Is Intimidation in Utah?
When you hear the word intimidation, it might bring to mind a bully threatening to steal your lunch money if you don’t comply with their wishes. On a more frightening note, it could be someone in a gang threatening to inflict serious bodily harm. While this scenario can be scary for the victim, it can also be criminal in the state of Utah. In fact, it’s the seventh most common crime in the Beehive state.
Read More →
law office in Utah
Sex Crimes: What Should You Do?
Our lawyers have a proven track record of defending cases of lewdness, sexual battery, voyerism, revenge porn, rape, cyberstalking, and more. For a more complete list and breakdown of potential allegations, visit the sex crimes page. 
Read More →

Defend your case with the best criminal defense attorneys in Utah

Get a confidential case evaluation

Our office will contact you as soon as possible to arrange for you to discuss the facts of your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah.​ The use of this form for communication with our personnel does not establish an attorney-client relationship.