You know that it’s important to get consent for a sexual encounter with someone that you’re not in a relationship with. If you’re at a college party and you meet someone new, you should ask them what they’re okay with before taking things to a more intimate level. Getting this consent is a good way to protect yourself from allegations of assault or other such sex crimes.
But what if you are in a relationship with that person? You’re dating, and you have been intimate before. Do you still need to get consent?
Consent should never be assumed
Yes, you should get consent, even from someone you’re in a relationship with. Do not assume that having been intimate before gives you endless permission to do so again. People can change their minds. You need to be sure that you’re on the same page, even if you’ve been together for a long time.
Speaking of changing their minds, remember that someone can also do so in the middle of an encounter. They may initially give you consent and then tell you that they’re not interested anymore. If they do, that consent at the beginning means nothing. You cannot continue with the encounter on the grounds that they were all right with it before.
Have you been accused of a crime?
You can see how complicated and confusing a simple sexual encounter can become. This can lead to criminal accusations that you never saw coming and never intended to cause. If this happens, then you need to know about all of the legal defense options at your disposal.