{"id":352151,"date":"2023-12-07T18:17:03","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T23:17:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/sexual-assault-overview.html"},"modified":"2023-12-07T18:17:03","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T23:17:03","slug":"sexual-assault-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/sexual-assault-overview.html","title":{"rendered":"Sexual Assault Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sexual Assault Overview<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Crimes like rape, attempted rape, and sexual battery usually are higher-degree felony offenses. Crimes involving unwanted and non-consensual sexual contact or touching may appear as lower-degree felony offenses. Under certain circumstances, a sexual assault is a misdemeanor offense.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

The term sexual assault\u00a0encompasses any non-consensual sexual act prohibited by law, including those in which the victim cannot\u00a0consent.<\/p>\n

Sexual offenses are more common than most people want to believe. National statistics<\/a>\u00a0bear this out. Around one in five women in the U.S. experience rape or attempted rape in their lifetimes. Close to 25% of U.S. men experience sexual violence in their lifetimes.<\/p>\n

What specific behaviors amount to sexual assault may depend on the law at issue. Federal and state laws define crimes of this nature. They may vary in their formulations. Common examples include the following:<\/p>\n