Obtaining Legal Help

If you, or someone you know, has been sexually abused or assaulted and is thinking about obtaining legal help you can contact the US Attorney’s Sex Offense/Domestic Violence Section at 202-353-9120 for more information on prosecuting criminal cases involving adult rape and child molestation in the District of Columbia. You can also visit their website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/dc.

If you do not want to file a criminal case, but want more information on civil liability for sexual assault you may want to consult with a private attorney. If you want to talk with someone about your options and other possible resources call the DC Rape Crisis Center 24-Hour Hotline at 202.333.RAPE.

Felony Sexual Assault Statue of Limitations Act of 2004

The Statute of Limitations for felony sexual assaults changed in May of 2005. For your information, the new Statutes are listed below. If you have any further questions please call our Hotline or contact the US Attorney’s Sex Offense/Domestic Violence Section.

There is now a 15 year statute for the following:

• First and Second Degree Sexual Abuse
• First and Second Degree Child Sexual Abuse

There is now a 10 year statute for the following:

• Third and Fourth Degree Sexual Abuse
• Enticing a Child
• Incest
• Sexual Performance of a Minor, using or promoting
• First and Second Degree Sexual Abuse of a Patient/Client
• First and Second Degree Sexual Abuse of a Ward

**In abuse of children (in DC, individuals sexually abused before the age of 16), the stature does not begin until the survivor is 21 years old. (So, if a child was abuse at age 12, he/she will have until age 36 to report since the statute will begin when he/she turns 21.)

This is applicable for the following:

• First and Second Degree Child Sexual Abuse
• Enticing a child
• Incest
• Sexual Performance of a Minor, using or promoting

**For First/Second Degree of Sexual Abuse of Patient/Client and First/Second Sexual Abuse of a Ward, the stature does not begin until the Patient/Client/Ward is no longer under the care or perpetrator.

The above new statute of limitations applies to all offenses occurring on or after May 10, 2005.

If the offense occurred before May 10, 2005 and the old stature had not ended, then the new statute IS APPLICABLE.

If the offense occurred before May 10, 2005 and the old statute had run out, then the new statute IS NOT APPLICABLE.

Legal Definitions of Sexual Abuse for the District of Columbia:

**Some survivors may find this link triggering.

Sexual Act

Penetration, however slight:

1. Of the anus or vulva by a penis or
2. by any object with the intent to abuse, harass, humiliate, degrade, or arouse or gratify sexual desire of any person.
3. Contact between the mouth and: penis, vulva, or anus

Sexual Contact

Touching with any clothed or unclothed body part or with any object of the following, either directly or through clothing: genitalia, anus, groin, breast, buttocks, inner thigh with the intent to abuse harass, humiliate, degrade, or arouse or gratify sexual desire of any person.