One of the best ways to protect yourself from allegations of sexual misconduct or even assault is just to ensure that you get consent from your partner whenever you engage in these activities. Communication is very important, and you definitely want to make sure that you and the other person are on the same page. When you get consent up front, you don’t have to worry about potential issues in the future.
But one of the most important things to remember about consent is that it only applies for that one time, in that very specific moment. For instance, there have been cases where people have been accused of forcing someone else to engage in sexual relations with them. Their defense was that the two of them had slept together before. But this is not a defense against these allegations because getting consent for an intimate encounter once does not mean that you have that consent in perpetuity.
Consent can also be withdrawn
Additionally, remember that someone can always withdraw their consent if they want to do so. They may give you permission to engage in a certain activity and then change their mind. If they do, the fact that they gave you consent previously doesn’t make a difference. All that matters in the eyes of the law is whether or not you had consent at that time.
Are you facing sex crime charges?
Miscommunication could lead to simple mistakes and allegations of criminal activity that you believe do not reflect what truly occurred. Be sure you know about all of the options you have if you’re facing charges related to sexual contact.