Consent & Substance Use: Key Legal Issues in Assault Cases

This course delves into the complex legal issues surrounding consent and substance use in assault cases, focusing on the critical role of toxicology in understanding drug-facilitated sexual assault.

You will gain a comprehensive understanding of how drugs and alcohol can impair an individual's ability to consent, the challenges in interpreting toxicology results, and the legal implications of drug-facilitated sexual assault.

• Explore the history and evolution of drug-facilitated sexual assault.
• Examine the properties and effects of common drugs used in assault cases, including benzodiazepines, GHB, ketamine, and alcohol.
• Delve into the principles of forensic toxicology, including the methods of analysis, the interpretation of results, and the limitations of toxicology testing.
• Analyze the legal definitions of sexual assault and consent, as well as the legal standards for proving drug-facilitated sexual assault.
• Gain insights into the effects of drugs on the brain and body, including their impact on judgment, memory, and decision-making abilities.
• Discover strategies for preventing drug-facilitated sexual assault, including personal safety measures and bystander intervention techniques.

This course is designed to provide legal professionals, investigators, and anyone interested in this area with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively navigate the complexities of drug-facilitated sexual assault cases.