Heinous crimes are can have horrible and lasting affects on society, wether they be murder, manslaughter, sexual assault, or drug charges. Aggravated sexual assault can be argued to be the most heinous crime in Canada. Section 273 of the C.C.C. defines aggravated sexual assault as anyone who “in committing a sexual assault, wounds, maims, disfigures or endangers the life of the compliant” (Greenspan, Rosenberg, & Henein, 2016, p. 257). Sections 271, 272, and 273 of the Canadian Criminal Code (C.C.C.) address sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, and aggravated sexual assault, respectively. According to section 273.1 of the C.C.C., sexual assault occurs when consent is not obtained (p. 257). The C.C.C. defines the lack of consent …show more content…
3). From 2013-2014, the rate of aggravated sexual assaults reported decreased by 22% (“Sexual Assault Declined”, p. 3). Although the reporting of aggravated sexual assault is declining, it is not likely that the amount of aggravated sexual assault is declining, especially so rapidly. Sexual assault is not reported for many reasons, particularly because they are embarrassed, do not think anything can be done, or believe they were somehow at fault (Siegel, Brown, & Hoffman,2013, p. 202). Sexual assault can also occur in a friendly, dating, or marital relationship (p. 204). Sexualassault.ca (2014) reports that 80% of sexual assault incidents occur in the home or by a friend of family member (“Numerical Response”, para. 1). Victims of sexual assault by an offender they have a relationship with are less likely to report an incident because they are often also victims of abusive relationships or blame themselves and do not want to cause any extra problem (p. 204). The victims of sexual assault are often affected for their rest of their lives by potentially experiencing flashbacks, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, contracting a sexually transmitted disease or an unwanted pregnancy (Sexual Trauma and Assault Response Services, n.d., “Effects”, para. 2, 6,