California state Democratic lawmakers have two competing bills to mandate prison sentences where a defendant rapes without force.

By Schonauer Law on Sep 01, 2016 at 02:34 PM in Law News

California state Democratic lawmakers have two competing bills to mandate prison sentences where a defendant rapes without force.

Under current California law, using force in a sexual assault results in a mandatory prison sentence. Where no force is used - when the victim cannot defend themselves – there is no mandatory sentence required.  In June, Brock Turner, 20, was sentenced to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman on a university campus.  The case was highly criticized.

Assembly member Bill Dodd is one of three Northern California legislators responsible for one bill with Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) and Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell). If signed by the governor, the bill would prohibit probation or suspended sentences where the victim was unconscious or too intoxicated to give consent.  Assemblywoman Nora Campos (D-San Jose) announced plans to sponsor her own mandatory prison legislation for rape convictions involving unconscious victims.