{"id":376055,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:30","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-sexual-assault-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-06-04T13:38:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T18:38:18","slug":"pennsylvania-sexual-assault-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-sexual-assault-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania Sexual Assault Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Pennsylvania Sexual Assault Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

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
\n

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

Pennsylvania defines the crime of sexual assault as having sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with someone against their will. A person can be guilty of statutory sexual assault<\/a> if the victim is under 16 years of age, the defendant is more than four years older than the victim, and they were not married to each other at the time of the offense.<\/p>\r\n

Pennsylvania also has a separate charge titled "indecent assault." Indecent assault is similar to sexual assault. It involves indecent contact with the victim, including the victim’s contact with the defendant’s seminal fluid, urine, or feces, to arouse sexual desire.<\/p>\r\n

Additional details of Pennsylvania’s sexual assault<\/a> laws are provided in the table below. For more information about crimes in the state, FindLaw’s Pennsylvania Criminal Laws<\/a> section has you covered.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Pennsylvania Sexual Assault Statutes<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

Statutory Definition of Sexual Assault in Pennsylvania<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

You may be guilty of a felony of the second degree if you have sexual intercourse with someone without their consent.  <\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Statutory Definition of Indecent Assault in Pennsylvania <\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

You’ll be guilty of indecent assault if you make indecent contact with someone or force them to make indecent contact with you. You can also be guilty of this crime if you make your victim come into contact with seminal fluid, urine, or feces to arouse sexual desire and:<\/p>\r\n