General Assembly Passes Sexual Assault Bill Redefining Consent Print
State Government
By Administrator   
Friday, 01 November 2019 09:50

The  Senate and the House each passed S199 and sent it to Governor Cooper for his signature. This is a sweeping bill that expands protections for victims of sexual assault.

North Carolina has been the only state in the country where a woman cannot revoke consent to have sex once sex has begun. That means if a woman initially consents and sex turn violent, the man cannot be prosecuted for rape – even if he admits that she had withdrawn her consent.

Law enforcement officers have declined to take out charges because of this law. Prosecutors have decline to prosecute because of this law. A jury in Wake County found a defendant not guilty because of this law.

S199 would close the loophole.

This is a huge step forward for women’s rights in North Carolina. It would not have been possible without the advocacy of Skye David and the N.C. Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Senator Jackson first encountered this issue during his time as an assistant district attorney and filed the bill to close the loophole during his first term in 2015. This year marked the 4th time that Sen. Jackson filed this legislation.

This is the most common sense piece of legislation we’ll ever pass. It’s an incredible victory for women’s rights and protections for victims of sexual assault,” said Sen. Jackson. “Every year victims would call us, share their stories and ask why this loophole still existed. I’m proud to be able to report back that it’s finally closed and I’m thankful for all the advocates and reporting that helped close this loophole.”