Criminal sexual conduct is a charge applied when a person faces sexual assault. This sexual assault can be sexual contact, penetration with minors, sex with force or coercion, or sex acts committed by an authority figure. Any person facing this allegation will face a complete change in life. The Michigan criminal sexual conduct has four varying degrees. All the degrees have different penalties and punishments. To know about these degrees, here are the details:
First Degree For Criminal Sexual Conduct
A person is charged with the first degree for criminal sexual conduct when they engage in an involuntary sexual penetration with a person between 13-16 years. This is a capital offense which means that the guilty person may get a punishment of life in prison. However, in these cases, mostly the alleged victims are not able to give consent for the same.
Second Degree For Criminal Sexual Conduct
The second degree of Michigan criminal sexual conduct is similar to the first degree. However, a person is alleged for sexual contact rather than sexual penetration in the second degree. This kind of sexual conduct can be done in many forms. This may include any sexual touching to a child under 13. The punishments or penalties are severe. The guilty person may get a sentence of 15-year prison. In addition to this, the name of the guilty person will get recorded in Michigan’s sex offender registry.
Third Degree For Criminal Sexual Conduct
In the third degree for criminal sexual conduct, a prosecutor must prove that sexual penetration is committed with a child between 13-15 age. In addition to it should also be established that the crime is committed with force or coercion. The punishment, in this case, is a prison for not more than 15 years. Here, mainly the statutory and date rapes are considered third-degree sexual conduct.
Fourth Degree For Criminal Sexual Conduct
A person is said to be charged with the fourth degree for criminal sexual conduct when they are involved in unwanted sexual touching with either,
- A minor
- A person with a mental or physical handicap
- Close relative
- Use of teacher-student relationship
- Mental health doctor with a patient, or
- Prison employee with an inmate.
Conclusion
The criminal laws for sexual misconduct are very tight in Michigan. These laws are made to prevent minors from any sexual misconduct. The punishments are also good enough for the guilty person.
