I share my story not for pity, but to highlight a chilling reality that many victims of sexual assault experience: negligible consequences for the perpetrators. I suffered through child molestation starting at age 5. My offender never served any jail time; he faced no repercussions. My life was irreversibly altered, yet justice was nowhere in sight. This happens not just to me, but to countless victims worldwide.

In America, it is crushing to note that the average time spent in jail for drug offenses is often longer than that for sexual assault, including child molestation. According to a research study published by The JFA Institute, the mean sentence length for drug offenses is around 66.5 months, whereas for sexual assault, it is only 65.9 months. This glaring disparity is not only unjust but perpetuates the cycle of sexual offenses as offenders get out on bail or serve minimal sentences.

Those who commit sexual assault are violating the personal space, trust, and physical integrity of another human violently and abhorrently; their punishment must correspond to the weight of their crime. Lenient sentencing not only belittles the victims' traumas but deter others who endure similar atrocities from coming forward. I urge you to sign this petition and echo our voices to our legislators. It's time for sentencing laws to reflect the seriousness of sexual assault crimes, and the scar they leave on the victims. Please, sign this petition and demand fairer, longer jail terms for sexual assault convictions.