Sexual Assault
The main issues that prompted law reforms in sexual assault are large number of victims were not reporting the crime and another issue was to increase the conviction for sexual assault. There are only 4 main types of sexual assaults, they are listed as
Rape - an assault by a person involving sexual intercourse with another person without that person's consent
Incest - Incest is sexual intercourse between family members and close relatives. The term may apply to sexual intercourse between individuals in a close "blood relationship", members of the same household, step relatives, those related by adoptionor marriage, or members of the same clan or lineage
Indecent Assault - It was defined as any unwanted sexual behaviour or touching which is forced upon people against their will.
Child Sexual Abuse or Child molestation - an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation
Reasons being for the low percentage of sexual crimes that have been reported is because most of the times, victims would get emotionally damage and can’t have the strength to report it to the police and another reason would be most victims would believe they won’t win the case if it gets reported.
The main factors that makes it difficult in proving a sexual assault case is lack of evidence, lack of physical evidence, type of knowledge the defendant needed to have at the time of the assault. The main change to the law of consent is if the victim is under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs then that victim may have no capacity to give consent.
The Criminal Justice Sexual Offence Taskforce influences the law reform by advising the attorney how the criminal justice system could favour the victims sexual assault without undermining the accused to receive a fair trial.
The NSW rape Crisis Centre aids citizens that has experienced sexual assault. Counselling and support are provided for those who have been sexual assaulted.
The NSW Bar Association has affected the law reform by banning misleading or confused victims.
The media has an impact of law reform because it influences the public and changes their opinions. Because of the media, sexual assaults have been recognised