Compared To Other Sex Abuse Charges, First-Degree Sex Abuse Defendants Receive Harsher Sentences

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Defendants that are charged with first-degree sex abuse serve longer sentences in prison compared to defendants charged with any other sex abuse offense.

The average sentence for defendants charged with first-degree sexual abuse is nearly 15 years. So far this year, four first-degree sexual abuse convictions have been sentenced.

For those found guilty of second-degree sexual abuse, the typical sentence is around four years in prison and there have been 10 defendants sentenced for second-degree sexual abuse this year as of Oct. 18.

Sixty sex abuse case have resulted in convictions as of Oct. 18.

Graphic by Natalie Goodman and Celia Okoro