What Is The Law Regarding Child Molestation In Rhode Island? Being accused of child molestation is a very serious crime, wherever you live in the world. In the United States, each state has its own laws regarding child molestation. In Rhode Island, being charged with child molestation can negatively impact the rest of your life, even forcing you to register on the public sex offender database. First degree child molestation in Rhode Island is when sexual penetration takes place with a child who is under fourteen years of age. Second degree is when you have sexual contact with a child younger than fourteen. The penalties vary based on the type of child molestation you are being charged with, what injuries were sustained, the relationship between you and the child and how many times the child was molested. Rhode Island Code Chapter 11 to 37 states that first degree child molestation is when a person is found guilty of sexual assault where they sexually penetrated a child of fourteen or younger. The sentencing for this crime is serious and can result in a minimum of twentyeight years imprisonment, with the possibility of being imprisoned for life There are a wide number of factors that can increase or reduce your sentencing. The age of the child, any injuries and how often the molestation occurred will all impact your imprisonment. For example, if you didn't have a relationship with the child and no injuries were caused and it only happened once, then you may face up to fifteen years in prison, rather than a life sentence. If you had a close relationship with the child (maybe a family member), but there were no injuries and it only occurred once, then you may experience up to twenty years in prison, for example. In addition to this, if you have been charged with child molestation and you had a close relationship with the child, caused moderate injuries and had sex numerous times, then you could face up to thirty years in prison. If there was physical injury and numerous counts of molestation with aggravating circumstances you could face twenty-five years imprisonment to life.