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Sexual Assault Criminal Process, Canada

Pressing charges, Consent, Rape Shield, Evidence and Sentencing

One of the most difficult questions facing victims is whether or not they choose to report the crime to the police. Often this is referred to as "pressing charges" against the accused. In reality, it is not the accused who presses charges, nor is it their decision. This is a decision of the Provincial Crown Prosecutor. The victim is merely a witness to the crime itself.

If charges are pressed, you may be forced to take the stand and testify under oath or affirmation. Generally, prosecutors are reluctant to force victims to testify against their will, however they do have the power to force your testimony and will do so if they feel it is in the public interest.

Definition of Sexual Assault in Canada's Criminal Code

Canada's Criminal Code has no specific "rape" provision. Instead, it defines assault and provides for a specific punishment for "sexual assault". In defining "assault", the Code includes physical contact and threats. The provision reads:

265. (1) A person commits an assault when

(a) without the consent of another person, he applies force intentionally to that other person, directly or indirectly;

(b) he attempts or threatens, by an act or a gesture, to apply force to another person, if he has, or causes that other person to believe on reasonable grounds that he has, present ability to effect his purpose; or

(c) while openly wearing or carrying a weapon or an imitation thereof, he accosts or impedes another person or begs.

(2) This section applies to all forms of assault, including sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a third party or causing bodily harm and aggravated sexual assault.

Interestingly, the definition 'appears' to include threats of sexual assault as a sexual assault itself. This suggests a person could be convicted of sexual assault without physically touching the victim if they make a threat of sexual assault (for instance, "I'm going to rape you"). One should check with their local Crown Attorney for information on how the Courts have interpreted this and whether such a Prosecution is possible.

Please note there are other specific sexual offences codified in the Criminal Code, such as sexual exploitation, invitation for sexual touching, child pornography, voyeurism, etc. An individual charged with sexual assault could be convicted of additional sexual crimes as well depending on the circumstances.

Consent

Consent is the critical issue in many sexual assault crimes. This is a question of fact and law that will be determined by the trier of fact in court. There are few set rules in terms of defining what constitutes consent and what doesn't. The code does specify some instances which do not constitute consent:

266 (3) For the purposes of this section, no consent is obtained where the complainant submits or does not resist by reason of

(a) the application of force to the complainant or to a person other than the complainant;

(b) threats or fear of the application of force to the complainant or to a person other than the complainant;

(c) fraud; or

(d) the exercise of authority.


Consent gets even more complicated when alcohol and drugs are involved in that it becomes a question of whether the victim had the capacity to consent. Again, the court will look at the totality of the evidence and decide.

Another issue is whether the accused reasonably believed that the victim consented to the sexual act. This is dealt with in the Criminal Code follows by instructing the trier of fact to consider the "reasonable grounds for the accused's belief" (see s. 266 (4)). Obviously, again we have a subjective question with very little criteria to go by.

The question of consent is thus determined by looking at the totality of the circumstances. There are no magic words or actions that automatically determine the issue of consent. In the end, it's going to be decided based on the testimony of the victim and (usually) the testimony of the accused and who is the more credible/believable witness.

Sentencing

The sentencing of the accused, if convicted, depends on the severity of circumstances and the presence and details of the accused's prior criminal history. The Crown Prosecutor decides whether to proceed summarily or by indictable. Summary conviction is a less serious route and will carry a lesser punishment than an indictable. The Code specifies the possible sentences for sexual assault as follows:

271. (1) Every one who commits a sexual assault is guilty of

(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years; or

(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding eighteen months.

These are the maximums for both a summary and indictable prosecution. Keep in mind an assailant can receive much less of a sentences that the prescribed maximums. See our sentencing table for information on real sentences given to assailant's based on particular prior records and circumstances.

Please note, in circumstances of aggravated sexual assault a stricter penalty is possible.

Aggravated Sexual Assault

The Criminal Code also allows for increased penalties for sexual assault where the accused "wounds, maims, disfigures or endangers the life of the complainant", see:

273. (1) Every one commits an aggravated sexual assault who, in committing a sexual assault, wounds, maims, disfigures or endangers the life of the complainant.

Aggravated sexual assault

(2) Every person who commits an aggravated sexual assault is guilty of an indictable offence and liable

(a) where a firearm is used in the commission of the offence, to imprisonment for life and to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of four years; and

(b) in any other case, to imprisonment for life.

Note that where a gun is used, a conviction will result in an automatic sentence of at least 4 years.

Evidence in Sexual Assault Trials

Testimony

In most sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse trials, the evidence presented largely consists of witness testimony. This generally includes the victim, the accused, and any other potential participants or witnesses. Unlike the victim, the accused has a right not to take the stand and testify under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

If there is physical/medical evidence (trauma, collection of bodily fluids, etc.) expert witnesses may also be called to testify in regards to this evidence.

Physical Evidence

Bodily fluids and other DNA producing evidence may be used to prove the identity of the accused. Further, physical evidence may be used to prove a sexual act took place. The purpose of physical evidence will depend upon the issue of trial. Where both the victim and the accused agree that sexual acts took place, and only dispute whether there was consent, proving that a sexual act took place is less important.

Video and Photographic Evidence

The use of this evidence is rare, but becoming more common. There have been cases built on video taken by the accused (generally on unconscious victims).

Rape Shield

At one time the sexual history of a victim could be extensively brought up and elaborated on at preliminary inquiries and trials. This was used mainly as an intimidation tactic to discourage victims from wanting to testify. It was also used to suggest that since a victim had a "promiscuous" past, or had consented to sex with the accused before, that she was more likely to have consented during the time in question.

Parliament reacted to this by changing the criminal code to forbid testimony of prior sexual activity except under very specific circumstances. This change to the criminal code is what is commonly referred to as the "rape shield" law. The actual provision of the Criminal Code reads:

276. (1) In proceedings in respect of an offence under section 151, 152, 153, 153.1, 155 or 159, subsection 160(2) or (3) or section 170, 171, 172, 173, 271, 272 or 273, evidence that the complainant has engaged in sexual activity, whether with the accused or with any other person, is not admissible to support an inference that, by reason of the sexual nature of that activity, the complainant

(a) is more likely to have consented to the sexual activity that forms the subject-matter of the charge; or

(b) is less worthy of belief


The Code also contains an exception to this rule, which is quite narrow in scope. Evidence of prior sexual behaviour -may- be allowed in if it meets three key criteria:

(a) is of specific instances of sexual activity;

(b) is relevant to an issue at trial; and

(c) has significant probative value that is not substantially outweighed by the danger of prejudice to the proper administration of justice.

Some may argue that the rape shield law does not go far enough in that no prior behaviour should ever be allowed into evidence.

Example of evidence of a prior sexual act that meets the above exception:

The Crown enters evidence of vaginal tearing to prove that forced intercourse took place. The defence is then allowed to enter evidence of prior specific sexual act that could also have caused the vaginal tearing (such as having sex the night before of the alleged rape).

Here the evidence isn't being introduced to show a propensity to consent, but rather to disprove a specific piece of physical evidence. The rape shield law does provide significant protection for victims of sexual assault. It must be remembered that before any exception to the rape shield law can be entered into evidence, the party looking for the exception must apply to and receive permission from the Judge.

* More information on the criminal offence of sexual assault can be found at Accused.ca



Disclaimer: All information on this page and website is of a general nature and may not apply to any specific circumstance. It is not to be construed as legal advice or presumed to be completely accurate, or infinitely up to date. Past results are not indicative of future results. If you have questions regarding your case, please contact our sponsoring lawyer or a local lawyer immediately for assistance because there are time limitations on civil claims. Failure to contact a local lawyer immediately could prevent you from making a claim. Contacting this website's owner or our sponsoring lawyer does not create a solicitor/client relationship. Any use of this website is not guaranteed to be fully confidential as it may be possible for a third party, such as an internet service provider, to track your usage and communications sent to us via email. The use of this website is governed by our Terms and Conditions of use page which can be read by clicking here.
Disclaimer: All information on this page and website is of a general nature and may not apply to any specific circumstance. It is not to be construed as legal advice or presumed to be completely accurate, or infinitely up to date. Past results are not indicative of future results. If you have questions regarding your case, please contact our sponsoring lawyer or a local lawyer immediately for assistance because there are time limitations on civil claims. Failure to contact a local lawyer immediately could prevent you from making a claim. Contacting this website's owner or our sponsoring lawyer does not create a solicitor/client relationship. Any use of this website is not guaranteed to be fully confidential as it may be possible for a third party, such as an internet service provider, to track your usage and communications sent to us via email. The use of this website is governed by our Terms and Conditions of use page which can be read by clicking here.