What Is a Sexual Assault Protection Order?
When you learn that someone is seeking a Sexual Assault Protection Order (SAPO) against you, you will naturally have a lot of questions. What is a SAPO? How will it affect me and those closest... Read More
Blog
Why Teens Who Commit Sex Offenses Rarely Do It Again
Many of us get our perceptions of sexual assault and other crimes from the media, television, and movies. While these depictions focus on stories that will boost ratings, web traffic, and ticket sales, they may... Read More
To Testify or Not to Testify? What Factors Defendants in Special Assault Cases Should Consider
If you are facing special assault charges, one of your concerns may be navigating the complexities of trial. You may be feeling anxious about what will happen at trial and especially about the possibility that... Read More
Reducing the Adult Consequences of Teenage Mistakes
This spring’s news about the Oregon State University baseball team shows how teenaged errors of some kinds can dog a person into adulthood. Luke Heimlich, the star pitcher of the OSU team, found himself in... Read More
What Every College Student Should Know About Alcohol and Consenting to Sex
For most young adults, college is their first taste of freedom. It’s their chance to finally socialize, date, and (yes) drink alcohol beyond the watchful eyes of their parents. However, with this newfound freedom also... Read More
DNA’s Gold Standard Begins to Tarnish
The forensic gold standard that is DNA has begun to show signs of tarnishing. Once believed to be infallible, the shortcomings and potential errors inherent in testing ever smaller quantities of DNA have begun to... Read More
Here Is What Happens When You Register as a Sex Offender in Washington
Registering as a sex offender is an understandably daunting and unpleasant task. Understanding your legal rights and responsibilities, however, is crucial to making sure you can get on with your life. This piece answers common... Read More
Grooming: Fact or Fiction?
Recently the Court of Appeals reversed a Washington man’s convictions, finding that a prosecutor committed misconduct by arguing facts not in evidence about the phenomenon known as “sexual grooming.” In our cases at The Marshall... Read More
To Be Blind or Not to Be Blind? Forensic Interviews in Child Sexual Abuse Cases
An important question for forensic interviewers of children in alleged abuse cases is whether to gather information about the case before interviewing the child. The Supreme Court suggested in the 1989 case Idaho v. Wright... Read More
Alcohol Distorts the Perception of Consent to Sex
Most sexual assault allegations arise from encounters between acquaintances. Rape by a stranger is particularly disquieting, and thus ideal for television and movie depiction, but it is rare. It is often my job as an... Read More
Defending Special Assault Cases—Uniquely Challenging, Uniquely Rewarding
My job is unique. People seem to get that almost immediately. When I meet someone new, the conversation often goes like this: “What do you do for a living?” “I’m a lawyer.” “What kind of... Read More
Assessing the Abel Assessment
The Abel Assessment for Sexual Interest—AASI—is a computer-based test used to measure a person’s sexual interests, especially towards children. Developed by Dr. Gene Abel over the last two decades, it is regularly used to help... Read More