Of all the crimes committed in our society, rape is by far one of the most reprehensible. In Kentucky, rape is a felony charge, with varying degrees of punishment depending on the circumstances surrounding the charge.
One of the terms used to describe a certain type of rape is “date rape.” You’ve probably heard this term before, but are unsure of exactly what it means. Let’s take a look at what is meant by the term and how it relates to the general definition of rape.
Defining Rape
Rape is an act of sexual aggression. Specifically, it is the engaging of sexual intercourse with a person who has either not given consent or is not capable of giving consent because of their age, physical or mental state, or their mental capacity. Depending on the degree of the rape charge, the act will be considered anything from a Class D felony to a Class A felony.
What Does “Date Rape” Mean?
Just like the term “rape,” date rape is still defined as a forcible sexual act with an unwilling or unknowing partner, but it typically means that the victim had some sort of previous or ongoing relationship with the perpetrator, even if it is only a date. It might be helpful to think of date rape as a subcategory of rape, as opposed to a different term entirely. Even though the victim might have had a prior relationship with the perpetrator, it does not qualify or justify the act in any way. Date rape simply specifies the relationship of the victim to the perpetrator.
In some cases of date rape, a person might use drugs to impair the victim. These drugs – flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) or gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) – are even frequently referred to as date rape drugs. If a victim is incapacitated and the perpetrator takes advantage of their state, the act is considered rape.
Victims of Date Rape
Victims of date rape might experience feelings of shame or, in some cases, some degree of responsibility for the terrible act committed against them. However, if consent isn’t given, the act is considered rape, and the victim should know that they should never bear feelings of responsibility. Rape can leave victims with a lifetime of physical, psychological or emotional damage. It is important for all rape victims to realize that it was never their fault. This is true not only for date rape victims, but for victims of all forms of rape or sexual abuse. Remember that just because someone has consented to go on a date with another person, the consent ends there and does not extend to any sexual activity.
Resources for Victims
In addition to notifying the authorities, victims can call many different national hotlines for help after rape. These numbers and more resources can be found on www.girlshealth.org.
- The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE or 1-800-787-3224
- Girls and Boys Town National Hotline: 1-800-448-3000 and 1-800-448-1833
In Kentucky, rape victims can visit the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs for resources specific to their location.
If you have been falsely accused of rape, call 859-685-1055.
For more specifics regarding Kentucky’s laws on rape, sexual abuse or sexual misconduct, here are the state’s statutes from the Kentucky legislature.