A state might impose lower-level felony penalties (such as a five- or ten-year sentence) when rape doesn't involve physical harm or other aggravating circumstances.

using a position of authority (like a doctor or teacher) to induce someone into engaging in sexual penetration.įor aggravated or first-degree rape, penalties can go as high as a 30- or 40-year prison sentence or a life sentence.

drugging a victim or engaging in sexual penetration with an unconscious victim, or.

Other circumstances that may increase the penalties for rape include: For instance, a state might classify rape committed against a child younger than 13 or rape resulting in serious bodily harm as first-degree rape or aggravated rape.

Penalties differ based on the circumstances of the crime, the vulnerability or age of the victim, and whether a victim suffered bodily harm. The c rime of rape typically involves forcing another person to engage in sexual intercourse, anal sex, or other sexual activity involving even the slightest form of penetration, without that person's consent or against the person's will. What Does Rape Mean? How Is Rape Punished? Its hotline and chatline can connect you to local resources and answer your questions. RAINN is the nation's largest, anti-sexual violence organization. If you're a victim of a sex crime, help and resources are available to you. Consult your state law or an attorney to determine how sex crimes are defined and penalized in your state.

But your state may use different terms and define the crimes differently. So while one state might define 'sexual battery' to mean nonconsensual sexual penetration or intercourse, another state might limit 'sexual battery' to only acts of nonconsensual sexual contact or touching.įor purposes of this article, we'll review the most commonly used terms for sex crimes in state law-rape, sexual assault, and sexual battery-and how they are typically defined. Regardless of the name of the crime, it's how the state's law defines the crime that matters. Most states' laws distinguish sex crimes by two main elements-crimes involving sexual penetration and those involving sexual contact or touching. Many of these terms are referred to interchangeably but have specific legal definitions under state law. Depending on where you live, your state's laws may refer to rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, or other terms, such as sexual abuse, unlawful sexual conduct, or criminal sexual conduct. Each state defines and penalizes sex crimes differently.

Sexual imposition meaning