Sexual assault can be a very traumatic event for the victim as well as the victim's family and friends. Sexual assault is a very serious crime. It is defined as any form of sexual assault without both parties' voluntary consent. Sexual assault is not just a non-consensual intercourse, it can be non-consensual touching or kissing (Zvulony CO pc, 2002). What I'm really against is the way a sexual offender is punished in Canada. In my research essay on sexual assault, I will be supporting my opinion on why Canada's law, regarding punishing the sexual offenders, should change.
If one is found guilty of committing a sexual offense, he or she could be sentenced from 18 months to 10 years (Zvulony CO pc, 2002). Section 271(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada states that anyone 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 term not exceeding 18 months ( Criminal Code of Canada and Zvulony CO pc, 2002). My question is that is that enough punishment for those who completely ruin their victims' lives and reputation? The person who has been sexually assaulted goes through major changes in their life. They have to live with the fact that they had been raped and their body isn't the same anymore. That person's family and friends won't be able to look at them the same way. They don't even feel comfortable with their own body anymore and it's all because of that one person who was just punished for 8-10 years for what they did. This is the reason the offender should be punished for more than just 10 years.
One who sexually assaults the other and then murders that person to cover their tracks should be imprisoned for life. If one just brutally rapes the other then he/she should be sent to jail for more than at least 20 years and also pay for the losses and damages that were caused to the victim or the victim's family.