Rape laws in the United States

Last updated

Rape laws vary across the United States jurisdictions. However, rape is federally defined (even though individual state definitions may differ) for statistical purposes as: [1]

Contents

Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.

Uniform Crime Report

Terminology

Laws use various terms to define aspects of instances of rape or sexual assault, including the acts themselves, the alleged perpetrator and the alleged victim, and whether they are or have been married to each other or someone else.

Furthermore, each state or federal agency may define sexual consent differently, if they do so at all. Some may only define the circumstances in which a person is incapable of consenting, and assume implied consent on a person in every other situation. They often require said person to resist any unwanted sexual advances, or that these advances only become criminal when the accused can be shown to have used some kind of force or coercion (which the accuser was incapable of resisting – though this is not always required) to commit the unwanted sexual advances upon the accuser. Other U.S. states and federal agencies afford each person voluntary, freely given or affirmative consent, which must first be obtained by someone else before being allowed to have sex with said person, and that this consent can be revoked at any time by said person. [2]

Federal

Civilian

Federal law applies in federal areas and in cases of displacement between states: [3]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual abuse18 U.S. Code § 2242Life without parole [Note 2] or any other term
Aggravated sexual abuse by force or threat18 U.S. Code § 2241(a)Life without parole or any other term
Aggravated sexual abuse by other means18 U.S. Code § 2241(b)Life without parole or any other term
Aggravated sexual abuse with children18 U.S. Code § 2241(c)Life imprisonment without parole or any term not less than 30 years

Military

The United States military has an offense of rape and another of sodomy. [4] The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) of the United States Armed Forces regards sex without consent as rape or sexual assault; it provides a definition of consent and examples of illegitimate inferrals of consent in § 920. Art. 120. "Rape and sexual assault generally" (g) 7 and 8. [5]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Rape10 U.S. Code § 920 – Art. 120(a)"as a court-martial may direct" [Note 3]
Forcible Sodomy10 U.S. Code § 925 – Art. 125(a)Life without parole or any other term

District of Columbia

In the District of Columbia, "sexual act" means "sexual intercourse". [6]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
First Degree Sexual AbuseDC Code § 22–3002Up to 30 years (sentence can exceed 30 years if there are aggravating circumstances) or life without parole
Second Degree Sexual AbuseDC Code § 22–3003Up to 20 years
First Degree Child Sexual AbuseDC Code § 22–3008Up to 30 years (sentence can exceed 30 years if there are aggravating circumstances) or life without parole
First degree sexual abuse of a secondary education studentDC Code § 22–3009.03Up to 10 years
First degree sexual abuse of a ward, patient, client, or prisonerDC Code § 22–3013Up to 10 years
First degree sexual abuse of a patient or clientDC Code § 22–3015Up to 10 years

States

.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
Coercion-based law (all penetrative sex)
Consent-based law (anal and oral sex)
Consent-based law (vaginal, anal and oral sex) Nonconsensual penetrative sex laws by U.S. state map.svg
  Coercion-based law (all penetrative sex)
  Consent-based law (anal and oral sex)
  Consent-based law (vaginal, anal and oral sex)
Coercion-based law (non-penetrative sex)
Consent-based law (non-penetrative sex) Nonconsensual non-penetrative sex laws by U.S. state map.svg
  Coercion-based law (non-penetrative sex)
  Consent-based law (non-penetrative sex)

Some U.S. states recognize penetrative sex without consent by the victim and without the use of force by the perpetrator as a crime (usually called 'rape'). Other states do not recognize this as a crime; their laws stipulate that the perpetrator must have used some kind of force or coercion (physical violence (that results in demonstrable physical injury), threats against the victim or a third party, or some other form of coercion) in order for such nonconsensual penetrative sex to amount to a crime. [2] Similarly, some states recognize non-penetrative sex acts (contact such as fondling or touching a person's intimate parts, or exposure of a body or sexual activity) without consent by the victim and without the use of force by the perpetrator as a crime, while other states do not. [2]

Alabama

Alabama divide its dispositions against forced sexual intercourse in sodomy and rape; in addition, the crime of "sexual torture" describes "rape by instrumentation". [7] [8]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Rape in the first degreeAL Code § 13A-6-61Between 10 and 99 years, or life
Rape in the second degreeAL Code § 13A-6-62Between 2 and 20 years
Sodomy in the first degreeAL Code § 13A-6-63Between 10 and 99 years, or life
Sodomy in the second degreeAL Code § 13A-6-64Between 2 and 20 years
Sexual tortureAL Code § 13A-6-65.1Between 10 and 99 years, or life

Alaska

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual assault in the first degreeAS §11.41.41099 years or less [Note 4]
Sexual assault in the second degreeAS §11.41.42099 years or less
Sexual assault in the third degreeAS §11.41.42599 years or less
Sexual assault in the fourth degreeAS §11.41.4271 year or less
Sexual abuse of a minor in the first degreeAS §11.41.434Between 20 and 99 years
Sexual abuse of a minor in the second degreeAS §11.41.436Between 5 and 99 years
Sexual abuse of a minor in the third degreeAS §11.41.4385 years or less
Sexual abuse of a minor in the fourth degreeAS §11.41.4401 year or less

Arizona

Arizona sentencing laws make the prison term dependent on several factors such as the age of the victim or the criminal record of the offender. [9]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual conduct with a minor when victim under 15Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §13-1405Between 13 and 27 years
Sexual conduct with a minor when victim between 15 and 18Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §13-1405Between 3 and 8.775 years
Sexual conduct with a minor in all other casesAriz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §13-1405Between 6 months and 2.5 years
Unlawful sexual conduct by adult probation department employees or juvenile court employees when victim between 15 and 18Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §13-1409Between 3 and 8.775 years
Unlawful sexual conduct by adult probation department employees or juvenile court employees in all other casesAriz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §13-1409Between 6 months and 2.5 years
Unlawful sexual conduct by peace officers when victim under 15Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §13-1412Between 13 and 27 years
Unlawful sexual conduct by peace officers when victim between 15 and 18Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §13-1412Between 3 and 8.775 years
Unlawful sexual conduct by peace officers in all other casesAriz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §13-1412Between 6 months and 2.5 years
Unlawful sexual conduct in correctional facilities by employee when victim under 15Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §13-1419Between 13 and 27 years
Unlawful sexual conduct in correctional facilities by employee when victim between 15 and 18Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §13-1419Between 3 and 8.775 years
Unlawful sexual conduct in correctional facilities by employee in all other casesAriz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §13-1419Between 6 months and 2.5 years

Arkansas

Source: [10]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Rape§5-14-103Life or between 10 and 40 years (minimum of 25 years if victim is under 14)
Sexual assault in the first degree§5-14-124

§5-14-124

Between 6 and 30 years
Sexual assault in the second degree§5-14-125(B)(b)(1)Between 5 and 20 years
Sexual assault in the second degree when victim under 14 and not married to the offender§5-14-125(B)(b)(2)Up to 6 years
Sexual assault in the third degree§5-14-126Between 3 and 10 years
Sexual assault in the fourth degree§5-14-127(a)(1)(A)Up to 6 years

California

California separates rape, sodomy and rape by instrumentation. [11]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
RapeCal. Penal Code §261, Cal. Penal Code §264(a)3, 6 or 8 years
Rape when victim under 14Cal. Penal Code §261, Cal. Penal Code §264(c)(1)9, 11 or 13 years
Rape when victim between 14 and 18Cal. Penal Code §261, Cal. Penal Code §264(c)(2)7, 9 or 11 years
Sex with a child under 10, and the defendant is 18 or olderCal. Penal Code 287(a)(b)15 years to life, 25 years to life, or life without the possibility of parole (depends on the aggravating factors)
Rape of a spouseCal. Penal Code §262, Cal. Penal Code §264(a)3, 6 or 8 years
Rape of a spouse when victim under 14Cal. Penal Code §262, Cal. Penal Code §264(c)(1)9, 11 or 13 years
Rape of a spouse when victim between 14 and 18Cal. Penal Code §262, Cal. Penal Code §264(c)(2)7, 9 or 11 years
SodomyCal. Penal Code §286Depends from the circumstances [Note 5]
Oral copulationCal. Penal Code §288aDepends from the circumstances [Note 6]
Forcible Acts of Sexual PenetrationCal. Penal Code §289Depends from the circumstances [Note 7]

All crimes listed here are also punishable by California’s “One-Strike Law”, Penal Code 667.61, which has a list of aggravating circumstances (such as a prior sex crime conviction, or the employment of torture during the crime), which if the aggravating circumstance is found true, increases the base term to a life sentence with parole eligibility depending on the age of the victim and the number of aggravating circumstances found true. (Although dependent on the facts of the case, parole eligibility will either be set at 15 years served, 25 years served, or in extreme cases life without the possibility of parole.)

As of October 2021, the spousal rape section was repealed by the Legislature. Spousal rape is now prosecuted the same as other rape charges.

Colorado

Sexual assault describes rape in the law of Colorado, and several factors make this crime, normally classified as class 3 felony, to be punished more harshly. [12]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual assaultColo. Rev. Stat. §18-3-402(2)Between 2 and 6 years, followed by 3 years of parole
Sexual assault when violence is threatened or used or when victim druggedColo. Rev. Stat. §18-3-402(3.5)Between 4 and 12 years, followed by 5 years of parole
Sexual assault when victim suffers serious bodily injury or when offender armed or assisted by othersColo. Rev. Stat. §18-3-402(5)Between 8 and 24 years, followed by 5 years of parole

Connecticut

Source: [13]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual assault in the first degreeConn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §53a-70Between 1 and 20 years
Aggravated sexual assault in the first degreeConn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §53a-70aAt least 10 years
Aggravated sexual assault in the first degree when victim under 16Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §53a-70aAt least 10 years
Sexual assault in the second degreeConn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §53a-71Between 1 and 10 years
Sexual assault in the second degree when victim under 16Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §53a-71Between 1 and 20 years
Sexual assault in the third degreeConn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §53a-72aBetween 1 and 5 years
Sexual assault in the third degree when victim under 16Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §53a-72aBetween 1 and 10 years

Delaware

In Delaware, rape is divided in four degrees. [14]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Rape in the fourth degreeDel. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 770Up to 15 years
Rape in the third degreeDel. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 771Between 2 and 25 years
Rape in the second degreeDel. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 772Between 10 and 25 years
Rape in the first degreeDel. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 773
  • 15 years to life-with-or-without-parole
  • Mandatory life-without-parole if:
    • The victim is under 16
    • The victim becomes disabled due to the rape
    • The defendant has previously been convicted of first- or second-degree rape
    • There were three or more separate victims

Florida

In Florida, rape is denominated "sexual battery." Of note, the offense of capital sexual battery cover cases where the offender is above 18 and the victim below 12. [15]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Statutory sexual batteryFla. Stat. § 794.011(8)(a)Up to 5 years
Sexual batteryFla. Stat. § 794.011(2)(b), Fla. Stat. § 794.011(5)(b), Fla. Stat. § 794.011(5)(c)Up to 15 years
Aggravated sexual batteryFla. Stat. § 794.011(2)(b), Fla. Stat. § 794.011(3), Fla. Stat. § 794.011(2)(b)Life without parole (For juveniles, a judge will set a maximum sentence of 40 years and they are eligible for review after serving 5/8 of that sentence)
Capital sexual batteryFla. Stat. § 794.011(2)(a)Death [Note 8] or Life without parole (For juveniles, a judge will set a maximum sentence of 40 years and they are eligible for review after serving 5/8 of that sentence)
SodomyFla. Stat. § 800.02Up to 60 days [Note 1]

Section 794.011 of the Florida Statutes defines "consent" as 'intelligent, knowing, and voluntary consent and does not include coerced submission. "Consent" shall not be deemed or construed to mean the failure by the alleged victim to offer physical resistance to the offender.' Any sexual act performed on a person without their freely given or affirmative consent is punishable as 'sexual battery' to various degrees (depending on the perpetrator's and victim's ages, and whether no, some, or potentially deadly physical force or coercion was used). [16] [17]

Georgia

In Georgia, the offense of rape is consolidated in only one offense, and a separate charge of sodomy has been defined. [18]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
RapeGa. Code Ann. § 16-6-1Death, [Note 8] LWOP, life with parole, or any sentence not less than 25 years followed by lifetime probation
Aggravated sodomyGa. Code Ann. § 16-6-2(a)(2)Life or any term not less than 25 years followed by life probation
Statutory rapeGa. Code Ann. § 16-6-3
  • If offender above 21 then between 10 and 20 years
  • If victim between 14 and 16 and offender below 18 and no more than four years older than the victim then it is a misdemeanor
  • Else, between 1 and 20 years

Hawaii

In Hawaii, the offense of sexual assault has been divided in three degrees. [19]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual assault in the first degreeHaw. Rev. Stat. § 707-730Up to 20 years
Sexual assault in the second degreeHaw. Rev. Stat. § 707-731Up to 10 years
Sexual assault in the third degreeHaw. Rev. Stat. § 707-732Up to 5 years

Idaho

Idaho defines, besides classical rape, marital rape. [20]

OffenseArticleMandatory Sentencing
RapeIdaho Code Ann. § 18-6101Any term of years greater than 1, or life
Rape of spouseIdaho Code Ann. § 18-6107Life or not less than 1 year
Infamous crime against natureIdaho Code Ann. § 18-6605Any term of years greater than five, or life

Illinois

In Illinois, the term of "criminal sexual assault" is used to describe what would be termed rape in the usual language. [21]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Criminal Sexual AssaultCh. 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/11-1.20Between 4 and 15 years [Note 9]
Aggravated Criminal Sexual AssaultCh. 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/11-1.30Between 6 and 30 years [Note 10]
Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a ChildCh. 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/11-1.40Between 6 and 30 years [Note 11]

According to the 2012 Criminal Code of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, Section 720 ILCS 5/11-1.70, "consent" is 'a freely given agreement to the act of sexual penetration or sexual conduct in question. Lack of verbal or physical resistance or submission by the victim resulting from the use of force or threat of force by the accused shall not constitute consent. The manner of dress of the victim at the time of the offense shall not constitute consent. A person who initially consents to sexual penetration or sexual conduct is not deemed to have consented to any sexual penetration or sexual conduct that occurs after he or she withdraws consent during the course of that sexual penetration or sexual conduct.' However, the lack of consent is not sufficient to prosecute anyone for a sex crime (except in very specific cases in which the victim is deemed incapable of consenting, namely Section 11-1.20 (a)(2), Section 11-1.50.(a)(2), Section 11-9.2.(e), and Section 11-9.5.(c)), making Illinois' rape legislation coercion-based (Section 11-1.20 (a)(1)). [22] [23]

Indiana

In Indiana, there is only one separate disposition for the crime of rape, on which, if needed, are applied aggravating circumstances. [24]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
RapeInd. Code § 35-42-4-1Between 3 and 16 years
Aggravated rapeInd. Code § 35-42-4-1(b)Between 20 and 40 years
Child Seduction with sexual intercourseInd. Code § 35-42-4-7(q)(2)Between 1 and 6 years

Iowa

In Iowa, there are three degrees of rape. [25]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual Abuse in the First DegreeIowa Code § 709.2Life without parole (parole eligibility if the defendant was a juvenile)
Sexual Abuse in the Second DegreeIowa Code § 709.3Up to 25 years
Sexual Abuse in the Third DegreeIowa Code § 709.4Up to 10 years

Kansas

In addition to the different categories of statutory rape, there is one category of rape in Kansas. [26]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
RapeKAN. STAT. ANN. § 21-5503Variable [Note 12]
Indecent Liberties with a ChildKAN. STAT. ANN. 21-5506(a)Severity level 5, person felony
Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a ChildKAN. STAT. ANN. §§ 21-5503 et sequentialVariable [Note 13]
Criminal SodomyKAN. STAT. ANN. § 21-5504Variable [Note 1] [Note 14]
Aggravated Criminal SodomyKAN. STAT. ANN. § 21-5504Variable [Note 14]

Kentucky

The law in Kentucky separates rape and sodomy, both divided into three degrees. [27]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Rape in the First DegreeKY. REV. STAT. ANN. § 510.040Between 10 and 20 years
Aggravated Rape in the First DegreeKY. REV. STAT. ANN. § 510.040Life or between 20 and 50 years
Rape in the Second DegreeKY. REV. STAT. ANN. § 510.050Between 5 and 10 years
Rape in the Third DegreeKY. REV. STAT. ANN. § 510.060Between 1 and 5 years
Sodomy in the First DegreeKY. REV. STAT. ANN. § 510.070Between 10 and 20 years
Aggravated Sodomy in the First DegreeKY. REV. STAT. ANN. § 510.070Life or between 20 and 50 years
Sodomy in the Second DegreeKY. REV. STAT. ANN. § 510.080Between 5 and 10 years
Sodomy in the Third DegreeKY. REV. STAT. ANN. § 510.090Between 1 and 5 years

Louisiana

Louisiana has divided the offense of rape into three degrees. [28]

Its capital child rape status was overturned by the Supreme Court in Kennedy v. Louisiana .

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
First Degree RapeLA. REV. STAT. ANN. § 14:42Life without parole (eligible for parole after 30 years if the defendant was under 18)
First Degree Rape on child under 13LA. REV. STAT. ANN. § 14:42 D. (2)(a)Death [Note 8] or life without parole (eligible for parole after 30 years if the defendant was under 18)
Second Degree RapeLA. REV. STAT. ANN. § 14:42.1Between 5 and 40 years
Third Degree RapeLA. REV. STAT. ANN. § 14:43Up to 25 years

Maine

In Maine, rape is denominated "Gross Sexual Assault." [29]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Gross Sexual AssaultME. REV. STAT. tit. 17A, § 253Variable [Note 15]

Maryland

In Maryland, rape, divided into two degrees, is restricted to non-consented vaginal penetration while sexual offenses, divided in four degrees, include sexual acts in the two first degrees, here defined by any forced penetration. [30]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Rape in the First DegreeMd. Code Ann., Criminal Law § 3-303Life without parole or any other term (only an option if the defendant was under 18)
Rape in the Second DegreeMd. Code Ann., Criminal Law § 3-304Up to 20 years
Aggravated Rape in the Second DegreeMd. Code Ann., Criminal Law § 3-304(c)(2)Life or any term not less than 15 years
Sexual Offense in the First DegreeMd. Code Ann., Criminal Law § 3-305Life or any other term
Aggravated Sexual Offense in the First DegreeMd. Code Ann., Criminal Law § 3-305(d)(2)-(4)Life without parole or any other term (only an option if the defendant was under 18)
Sexual Offense in the Second DegreeMd. Code Ann., Criminal Law § 3-306Up to 20 years
Aggravated Sexual Offense in the Second DegreeMd. Code Ann., Criminal Law § 3-306(c)(2)Life or any term not less than 15 years

Massachusetts

Several different statutes define rape in Massachusetts. [31]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
RapeMASS. GEN. LAWS. ANN. ch. 265, § 22Life or any other term [Note 16]
Rape of a ChildMASS. GEN. LAWS. ANN. ch. 265, § 22ALife or any other term
Rape of a Child During Commission of Certain OffensesMASS. GEN. LAWS. ANN. ch. 265, § 22BLife or any term not less than 15 years
Rape of a Child by Previously Convicted OffendersMASS. GEN. LAWS. ANN. ch. 265, § 22CLife or any term not less than 20 years
Statutory RapeMASS. GEN. LAWS. ANN. ch. 265, § 23Life or any other term
Aggravated Statutory Rape of a ChildMASS. GEN. LAWS. ANN. ch. 265, § 23ALife or any term not less than 10 years
Statutory Rape of a Child by Previously Convicted OffendersMASS. GEN. LAWS. ANN. ch. 265, § 23BLife or any term not less than 15 years
Crime against nature [Note 1] MASS. GEN. LAWS. ANN. ch. 272, § 34Up to 20 years

Michigan

In Michigan, the offense of rape is contained into the offenses of Criminal Sexual Conduct. [32]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Crime against nature [Note 1] MICH. COMP. LAWS ANN. § 750.158Life or any other term
Criminal Sexual Conduct in the First DegreeMICH. COMP. LAWS ANN. § 750.520bLife or any other term
Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Second DegreeMICH. COMP. LAWS ANN. § 750.520cUp to 15 years
Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Third DegreeMICH. COMP. LAWS ANN. § 750.520dUp to 15 years
Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Fourth DegreeMICH. COMP. LAWS ANN. § 750.520eUp to 2 years

Minnesota

In Minnesota the offense is divided into five degrees, of which the first three cover rape. [33]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Criminal Sexual Conduct in the First DegreeMinn. Stat. § 609.342Up to 30 years
Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Second DegreeMinn. Stat. § 609.343Up to 25 years
Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Third DegreeMinn. Stat. § 609.344Up to 15 years

Until July 2019, in Minnesota sexual violence occurring between spouses at the time they cohabit or between unmarried partners could be prosecuted only if there was force or threat of thereof, due to exemptions created by Article 609.349 'Voluntary relationships' [34] which stipulated that certain sexual offenses do not apply to spouses (unless they are separated), and neither do they apply to unmarried cohabitants. These are offenses that deal with situations where the lack of consent is due to the incapacity of consent of the victim, including where the victim was drugged by the perpetrator. These situations, which were excluded from prosecution, are where the victim was "mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless". The term "mentally incapacitated" is defined as a person who "under the influence of alcohol, a narcotic, anesthetic, or any other substance, administered to that person without the person's agreement, lacks the judgment to give a reasoned consent to sexual contact or sexual penetration". (see Article 609.341 for definitions). [35] In 2019, these exemptions were repealed. [36] [37]

In 2021 the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that people who drink alcohol or take drugs of their own free will before being sexually assaulted do not meet the Minnesota legislature’s definition of mentally incapacitated. [38]

Mississippi

Several disparate statutes are applicable to the crime of rape. [39]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Rape by druggingMiss. Code Ann. § 97-3-65(4)Life or any other term
Rape or Assault with Intent to RavishMiss. Code Ann. § 97-3-71Life or any other term
Sexual BatteryMiss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95Up to 20 years [Note 17]
Statutory RapeMiss. Code Ann. § 97-3-65Life or any other term [Note 18]
Unnatural Intercourse [Note 1] Miss. Code Ann. § 97-29-59Up to 10 years

Missouri

In Missouri, both rape and statutory rape, along with sodomy, are divided into two degrees. [40]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
First Degree RapeMo. Rev. Stat. § 566.030Life or any term not less than 5 years
Second Degree RapeMo. Rev. Stat. § 566.031Up to 7 years
Statutory Rape in the First DegreeMo. Rev. Stat. § 566.032Life or any sentence not less than 5 years
Statutory Rape in the Second DegreeMo. Rev. Stat. § 566.034Up to 7 years
Sodomy in the First DegreeMo. Rev. Stat. § 566.060Life or any term not less than 5 years
Sodomy in the Second DegreeMo. Rev. Stat. § 566.061Up to 7 years

Montana

In Montana rape is denominated Sexual Intercourse Without Consent. [41]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual Intercourse Without ConsentMont. Code Anno. § 45-5-503Life or between 2 and 100 years
Second conviction for sexual intercourse without consent when both accompanied by serious bodily injuryMont. Code Anno. § 45-5-503(3)(c)Death [Note 8] or Life without parole (eligible for parole after 30 years if the defendant was under 18)

Nebraska

In Nebraska the first degrees of several sex offenses cover cases of rape. [42]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual Assault in the First DegreeR.R.S. Neb. § 28-319Between 1 and 50 years
Sexual Assault of a Child in the First DegreeR.S.S. Neb. § 28-319.01Life or any term not less than 20 years
Sexual Assault of an Inmate or Parolee in the First DegreeR.R.S. Neb. § 28-322Up to 20 years

Nevada

In Nevada, the offense of rape is denominated Sexual Assault. [43]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual AssaultNev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 200.366Life with a minimum of 10 years
Sexual Assault causing substantial bodily harmNev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 200.366(2)(a)Life without parole or life with a minimum of 15 years (only an option if the defendant was a juvenile)
Sexual Assault when the victim is under the age of 16Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 200.366(3)(a)Life with a minimum of 25 years
Sexual Assault causing substantial bodily harm when the victim is under the age of 16Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 200.366(3)(b)Life without parole (eligible for parole after 35 years if the defendant was under 18)
Sexual Assault when the victim is under the age of 14Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 200.366(3)(c)Life with a minimum of 35 years
Statutory Sexual Seduction when offender above 21Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 200.368(1)Between 1 and 10 years
Statutory Sexual Seduction when offender under 21Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 200.368(2)Up to 364 days

New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, rape is denominated Sexual Assault. [44]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Aggravated Felonious Sexual AssaultRSA 632-A:2Between 10 and 20 years
Felonious Sexual AssaultRSA 632-A:3Between 1 and 7 years
Sexual AssaultRSA 632-A:4Up to 1 year

New Jersey

In New Jersey, rape is covered as Aggravated Sexual Assault in the First Degree. [45]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Aggravated Sexual Assault in the First DegreeN.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a)Life with at least 25 years served or a term of 25 years and less

New Mexico

In New Mexico the offense of rape is punished as Criminal Sexual Penetration, itself divided in four degrees. [46]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Criminal Sexual Penetration in the First DegreeN.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-9-11(D)18 years
Criminal Sexual Penetration in the Second DegreeN.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-9-11(E)15 years
Criminal Sexual Penetration in the Third DegreeN.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-9-11(F)3 years
Criminal Sexual Penetration in the Fourth DegreeN.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-9-11(G)18 months

New York

In New York the crime of rape and Criminal Sexual Act are divided in three degrees; moreover, the offense of "Sexual Misconduct" describes any sexual act done without the victim's consent. [47]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual MisconductN.Y. Penal Law § 130.20Up to 364 days
Rape in the Third DegreeN.Y. Penal Law § 130.25Up to 4 years
Rape in the Second DegreeN.Y. Penal Law § 130.30Between 2 and 7 years
Rape in the First DegreeN.Y. Penal Law § 130.35Between 5 and 25 years
Criminal Sexual Act in the Third DegreeN.Y. Penal Law § 130.40Up to 4 years
Criminal Sexual Act in the Second DegreeN.Y. Penal Law § 130.45Between 2 and 7 years
Criminal Sexual Act in the First DegreeN.Y. Penal Law § 130.50Between 5 and 25 years
Aggravated Sexual Abuse in the Fourth DegreeN.Y. Penal Law § 130.65-aUp to 4 years
Aggravated Sexual Abuse in the Third DegreeN.Y. Penal Law § 130.66Between 2 and 7 years
Aggravated Sexual Abuse in the Second DegreeN.Y. Penal Law § 130.67Between 3.5 and 15 years
Aggravated Sexual Abuse in the First DegreeN.Y. Penal Law § 130.70Between 5 and 15 years

Sexual offenses are defined as 'sexual [acts] committed without consent of the victim'. Lack of consent results from 4 possible causes: forcible compulsion, incapacity to consent, the victim not expressly or implicitly acquiescing (in sexual abuse and forcible touching cases), or expression of lack of consent (in sexual intercourse and sexual oral or anal conduct cases). Consent itself is not defined; Section 130.5 of the New York Penal Law only stipulates that a person who doesn't want to have sex needs to be clear enough in their words and acts, so that 'a reasonable person in the actor's situation would have understood such person's words and acts as an expression of lack of consent to such act under all the circumstances'. This description doesn't make clear whether affirmative consent is required to have sex (or conversely, whether a lack of affirmative consent can result in a sexual offense), but both Section 130.25 Rape in the third degree (3) and Section 130.40 Criminal sexual act in the third degree (3) do provide this possibility in the form of catch-all clauses by stating that, whenever there is a 'lack of consent (...) by reason of some factor other than incapacity to consent', this is sufficient for the sexual act to amount to a crime. [48] [49]

North Carolina

In North Carolina, the offenses of Rape and Sexual Offense cover cases of forced penetration. [50]

The Constitution of North Carolina ranks rape among the crimes which can be punished by death, although Kennedy v. Louisiana restricts the range of capital crimes to homicides and crimes against the State. [51]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
First Degree Forcible RapeN.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.21LWOP, life with parole or a prison term of at least 12 years (LWP and 12 years are only options if the defendant was under 18)
Second Degree Forcible RapeN.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.22From 3 years and 8 months to 15 years and 2 months
Statutory Rape of a Child by an AdultN.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.23LWOP, life with parole or a prison term of at least 25 years (LWP and 25 years are only options if the defendant was under 18)

After serving his sentence, the convict shall be under lifelong satellite-based monitoring

First Degree Statutory RapeN.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.24LWOP, life with parole or a prison term of at least 25 years (LWP and 25 years are only options if the defendant was under 18)

After serving his sentence, the convict shall be under lifelong satellite-based monitoring

Statutory Rape of a Person Who Is 15 Years of Age or YoungerN.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.25LWOP, life with parole or a prison term of at least 12 years (LWP and 12 years are only options if the defendant was under 18)
First Degree Forcible Sexual OffenseN.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.26LWOP, life with parole or a prison term of at least 12 years (LWP and 12 years are only options if the defendant was under 18)
Second Degree Forcible Sexual OffenseN.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.27From 3 years and 8 months to 15 years and 2 months
Statutory Sexual Offense of a Child by an AdultN.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.28LWOP, life with parole or a prison term of at least 25 years (LWP and 25 years are only options if the defendant was under 18)

After serving his sentence, the convict shall be under lifelong satellite-based monitoring

First Degree Statutory Sexual OffenseN.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.29LWOP, life with parole or a prison term of at least 25 years (LWP and 25 years are only options if the defendant was under 18)

After serving his sentence, the convict shall be under lifelong satellite-based monitoring

Statutory Sexual Offense of a Person Who Is 15 Years of Age or YoungerN.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.30LWOP, life with parole or a prison term of at least 12 years (LWP and 12 years are only options if the defendant was under 18)

North Dakota

In North Dakota, rape is defined as Gross Sexual Imposition, although several other crimes describe cases of statutory rape. [52]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Gross Sexual Imposition when author at least 22 or when the victim suffered serious bodily injuryN.D. Cent. Code Ann. § 12.1-20-03(3)(a)Life without parole, life or prison term at least 20 years followed with probation (only an option if the defendant was under 18)
Gross Sexual ImpositionN.D. Cent. Code Ann. § 12.1-20-03(3)(b)Up to 20 years
Gross Sexual Imposition causing deathN.D. Cent. Code Ann. § 12.1-20-03(4)Life without parole (eligible for parole after 30 years if defendant was under 18)
Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child when author above 22N.D. Cent. Code Ann. § 12.1-20-03.1Life without parole or any other term (only an option if the defendant was under 18)
Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child when author below 22N.D. Cent. Code Ann. § 12.1-20-03.1Up to 20 years
Sexual ImpositionN.D. Cent. Code Ann. § 12.1-20-04Up to 10 years
Corruption or Solicitation of Minors when victim above 15N.D. Cent. Code Ann. § 12.1-20-05(1)Up to 1 year
Corruption or Solicitation of MinorsN.D. Cent. Code Ann. § 12.1-20-05(2)Up to 5 years
Corruption or Solicitation of Minors when victim above 15 within 50 feet (15.24 meters) of a schoolN.D. Cent. Code Ann. § 12.1-20-05(3)Up to 5 years
Corruption or Solicitation of Minors within 50 feet (15.24 meters) of a schoolN.D. Cent. Code Ann. § 12.1-20-05(3)Up to 10 years
Sexual Abuse of WardsN.D. Cent. Code Ann. § 12.1-20-06Up to 5 years

Ohio

In Ohio, the offenses of Rape and Sexual Battery are relevant to this article. [53]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
RapeOhio Rev. Code Ann. § 2907.02Between 3 and 11 years
Rape when victim drugged (after March 22, 2019)Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2907.02(A)(1)(a)Between 5 and 11 years
Rape when victim is under the age of 13Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2907.02(A)(1)(b)Life with parole eligibility after 10 years
Rape when the victim is under the age 10Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2907.02(A)(1)(b)Life with parole eligibility after 15 years
Rape if the victim was under the age of 13 and the offender caused serious physical harm; or if the victim was age of 13 and the offender used force or a threat of forceOhio Rev. Code Ann. § 2907.02(A)(1)(b)Life with parole eligibility after 25 years or life without parole
Sexual BatteryOhio Rev. Code Ann. § 2907.03Between 9 months and 5 years
Sexual Battery when victim under 13Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2907.03Between 2 and 8 years

Oklahoma

Oklahoma divides the offense of rape in two degrees and enacted a capital version of the Jessica's Law. [54]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Rape in the First DegreeOkla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, §§ 1114, 1112Death (if the offense resulted in the fatality), [Note 8] Life without parole, life with parole, or any other term not less than 5 years
Rape in the First Degree with priorsOkla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, §§ 1114, 1112Life without parole or life with parole
Rape in the First Degree on victim under 14 after having been previously convicted for sex offenses against childrenOkla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, §§ 1114, 1112Death [Note 8] or life imprisonment
Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, § 1114; 1112Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, §§ 1114; 1112Between 1 and 15 years
Forcible SodomyOkla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, § 888Up to 20 years
Forcible Sodomy with two priors of sex offensesOkla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, § 888Life without parole or life with parole
Forcible Sodomy of victim under 14 after having been previously convicted for sex offenses against childrenOkla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, § 888Death [Note 8] or life imprisonment

Oregon

In Oregon, both rape and sodomy are divided in three degrees, and the crime of Unlawful Sexual Penetration is divided in two degrees. [55]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Rape in the Third DegreeOr. Rev. Stat. § 163.355Up to 5 years
Rape in the Second DegreeOr. Rev. Stat. § 163.365Between 6 years and 3 months to 10 years
Rape in the First DegreeOr. Rev. Stat. § 163.375Between 8 years and 4 months to 20 years
Sodomy in the Third DegreeOr. Rev. Stat. § 163.385Up to 5 years
Sodomy in the Second DegreeOr. Rev. Stat. § 163.395Between 6 years and 3 months to 10 years
Sodomy in the First DegreeOr. Rev. Stat. § 163.405Between 8 years and 4 months to 20 years
Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the Second DegreeOr. Rev. Stat. § 163.408Between 6 years and 3 months to 10 years
Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First DegreeOr. Rev. Stat. § 163.411Between 8 years and 4 months to 20 years

Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, the offenses of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and sexual assault cover what could be commonly called rape. [56]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentence
Rape18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121Up to 20 years [Note 19]
Rape of a child less than 1318 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(c)Up to 40 years
Rape of a child less than 13 with serious bodily injury18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(d)Life without parole ((eligible for commutation by governor provided there is a unanimous recommendation by the Board of Pardons or any other term
Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3123Up to 20 years [Note 19]
Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse of a child less than 1318 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3123(c)Up to 40 years
Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse of a child less than 13 with serious bodily injury18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3123(d)Life without parole (eligible for commutation by governor provided there is a unanimous recommendation by the Board of Pardons) or any other term
Statutory Sexual Assault in the Second Degree18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3122.1(a)Up to 10 years
Statutory Sexual Assault in the First Degree18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3122.1(b)Up to 20 years
Institutional Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault by Sports Official, Volunteer, or Employee of Nonprofit Association

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3124.2Up to 7 years
Aggravated Indecent Assault18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3125(a)Up to 10 years
Aggravated Indecent Assault of a Child under 1318 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3125(b)Up to 20 years

In the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, 'Section 3107. Resistance not required' stipulates that 'the alleged victim need not resist the actor in prosecutions under this chapter'. The Statutes do not define consent, but if an actor engages in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse, or aggravated indecent assault, with a complainant without the latter's consent, this makes the actor punishable under 'Section 3124.1. Sexual assault', or 'Section 3125. Aggravated indecent assault', respectively. Furthermore, mental disability can render a person incapable of consenting to sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, or aggravated indecent assault, thus making an actor who engages in these acts with a mentally disabled complainant punishable under 'Section 3121. Rape', 'Section 3123. Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse', or 'Section 3125. Aggravated indecent assault', respectively. [57] [58]

Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, the three degrees of Sexual Assault and the first degree of Child Molestation Sexual Assault are relevant to this article. [59]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentence
Sexual Assault in the First DegreeR.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-2Life imprisonment or any term not less than 10 years
Sexual Assault in the Second DegreeR.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-4Between 3 and 15 years
Sexual Assault in the Third DegreeR.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-6Up to 5 years
First Degree Child Molestation Sexual AssaultR.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-8.1Life imprisonment or any term not less than 25 years

South Carolina

South Carolina divides "criminal sexual conduct" in three degrees, along two categories of teacher-student sex and a special crime for spousal rape. [60]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Spousal Sexual BatteryS.C. Code Ann. § 16-3-615Up to 10 years
Criminal Sexual Conduct in the First DegreeS.C. Code Ann. § 16-3-652Up to 30 years
Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Second DegreeS.C. Code Ann. § 16-3-653Up to 20 years
Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Third DegreeS.C. Code Ann. § 16-3-654Up to 10 years
Felony Sexual Battery with a StudentS.C. Code Ann. §§ 16-3-755(B), 16-3-755(D)Up to 5 years
Misdemeanor Sexual Battery with a StudentS.C. Code Ann. § 16-3-755(C)Up to 30 days

South Dakota

In South Dakota, there are four degrees to the crime of rape. [61]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Rape in the First DegreeS.D. Codified Laws § 22-22-1(1)Life or any term not less than 15 years
Rape in the Second DegreeS.D. Codified Laws § 22-22-1(2)Up to 50 years
Rape in the Third DegreeS.D. Codified Laws § 22-22-1(3) & (4)Up to 25 years
Rape in the Fourth DegreeS.D. Codified Laws § 22-22-1(5)Up to 15 years

Tennessee

In Tennessee the law distinguishes between Rape and Aggravated Rape, along with some dispositions on statutory rape. [62]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Aggravated Rape of a ChildTenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-531 (a)Life without parole (after July 1, 2019)
Child RapeTenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-531 (b)Between 25 and 60 years
Aggravated RapeTenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-502Between 15 and 60 years
RapeTenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-503Between 8 and 30 years

Texas

In Texas, rape is described as Sexual Assault. [63]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual AssaultTex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.011Between 2 and 20 years
Aggravated Sexual AssaultTex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.021Between 5 and 99 years

Section 22.011 (a) defines sexual assault as an actor performing various forms of sexual penetration of another person's body without that person's consent. Section 22.011 (b) implies that a person's consent is always present, except in 12 specified circumstances that render a person incapable of consenting, such as being forced or coerced with violence or threats by the actor (possibly because of the unequal power balance between the actor and the other person), unconscious or 'physically unable to resist', or having a 'mental disease or defect'. Although Subsection (b)(3) and (4) could be interpreted as requiring the other person to resist the sexual assault, in the 2016 Orgain v. State case the Second District Court of Appeals ruled that sexual assault is defined by the attacker's use of force or coercion, not by the victim's resistance. [64] Texas sexual assault law is therefore coercion-based: the actor requires no freely given consent or affirmative consent from the other person, and the other person cannot freely revoke their implied permanent consent, unless they can satisfy one of the 12 specified circumstances. In other words: if the other person claims not to have wanted to have sex with the actor, but cannot be demonstrated to have been incapable of consenting, and the actor cannot be demonstrated to have used some kind of force or coercion, it is not sexual assault under Texas state law. [65]

Utah

Utah has several laws regarding rape, rape by objects and statutory rape. [66]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Unlawful Sexual Activity with a MinorUtah Code Ann. § 76-5-401Up to 5 years [Note 20]
Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a 16-or-17-Year-OldUtah Code Ann. § 76-5-401.2Up to 5 years [Note 21]
RapeUtah Code Ann. § 76-5-402Life or not less than 5 years
Rape with bodily injuries, or when author already convicted of sex offenses when less than 18-years-oldUtah Code Ann. § 76-5-402Life or not less than 15 years
Rape when author already convicted of sexual offense as an adultUtah Code Ann. § 76-5-402Life without parole
Rape of a ChildUtah Code Ann. §76-5-402.1Life or not less than 25 years
Rape of a Child when victim seriously harmed or when author already convicted of a sexual offense as an adultUtah Code Ann. §76-5-402.1Life without parole

Vermont

In Vermont, rape is denominated Sexual Assault. [67]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual Assault13 V.S.A. §§ 3252 & 3254Life or any term not less than 3 years [Note 22]
Aggravated Sexual Assault13 V.S.A. § 3253Life or any term not less than 10 years
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child13 V.S.A. § 3253(a)Life or any term not less than 25 years
Sexual Exploitation of an Inmate13 V.S.A. § 3257Up to 5 years
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor13 V.S.A. § 3258Up to 1 year [Note 23]

Virginia

In Virginia, there is a single offense of Rape along with Forcible Sodomy and various forms of Carnal Knowledge. [68]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
RapeVa. Code Ann. § 18.2-61Life or any term not less than 5 years [Note 24]
Carnal Knowledge of a Child Between 13 and 15 Years of AgeVa. Code Ann. § 18.2-63Variable [Note 25]
Carnal Knowledge of an Inmate, Parolee, ProbationerVa. Code Ann. § 18.2-64.2Variable [Note 26]
Forcible SodomyVa. Code Ann. § 18.2-67.1Life or any term not less than 5 years [Note 24]

Washington

Green River College explanation of Washington state law on rape

In Washington, there are three degrees for the offenses of Rape and Rape of a Child, and two degrees for Sexual Misconduct with a Minor. [69]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Rape in the First DegreeWash. Rev. Code § 9a.44.040Life or any term not less than 3 years
Rape in the Second DegreeWash. Rev. Code § 9a.44.050Life or any other term
Rape in the Third DegreeWash. Rev. Code. § 9A.44.060Up to 5 years
Rape of a Child in the First DegreeWash. Rev. Code. § 9A.44.073Life or any other term
Rape of a Child in the Second DegreeWash. Rev. Code. § 9A.44.076Life or any other term
Rape of a Child in the Third DegreeWash. Rev. Code. § 9A.44.079Up to 5 years
Sexual Misconduct with a Minor in the First DegreeWash. Rev. Code. § 9A.44.093Up to 5 years
Sexual Misconduct with a Minor in the Second DegreeWash. Rev. Code. § 9A.44.096Up to 364 days

West Virginia

In West Virginia, the offense of rape, denominated as "Sexual Assault" and "Sexual Abuse" both divided in three degrees. [70]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual Assault in the First DegreeW. Va. Code § 61-8B-3From 15 years to 35 years [Note 27]
Sexual Assault in the Second DegreeW. Va. Code § 61-8B-4From 10 years to 25 years
Sexual Assault in the Third DegreeW. Va. Code § 61-8B-5From 1 year to 5 years
Sexual Abuse in the First DegreeW. Va. Code § 61-8B-7From 1 years to 5 years [Note 28]
Sexual Abuse in the Second DegreeW. Va. Code § 61-8B-8Maximum of 12 months
Sexual Abuse in the Third DegreeW. Va. Code § 61-8B-9Maximum of 90 days

Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, main sex offenses, denominated Sexual Assault, are divided in four degrees, and the three first degrees cover cases of penetration.

Additional offenses cover cases of sexual exploitation on vulnerable persons. [71]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual Assault in the First DegreeWis. Stat. § 940.225(1)Up to 60 years
Sexual Assault in the Second DegreeWis. Stat. § 940.225(2)Up to 40 years
Sexual Assault in the Third DegreeWis. Stat. § 940.225(3)Up to 10 years
Sexual Assault of a Child in the First DegreeWis. Stat. § 948.02Vary [Note 29]
Sexual Assault of a Child in the Second DegreeWis. Stat. § 948.02Up to 40 years
Sexual Assault of a Child Placed in Substitute CareWis. Stat. § 948.085Up to 40 years
Sexual Assault of a Child by a School Staff Person or Person Who Works or Volunteers with ChildrenWis. Stat. § 948.095Up to 6 years
Sexual Intercourse with a Child Age 16 or OlderWis. Stat. § 948.09Up to 9 months

Wyoming

In Wyoming, rape, denominated there Sexual Assault, is divided in three degrees, and statutory rape, denominated Sexual Abuse of a Minor, is divided in four degrees, the three first involving penetration. [72]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual Assault in the First DegreeWyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-302From 5 to 50 years [Note 30]
Sexual Assault in the Second DegreeWyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-303From 2 to 20 years [Note 31]
Sexual Assault in the Third DegreeWyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-304Up to 10 years [Note 31]
Sexual abuse of a minor in the first degreeWyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 6-2-314Up to 50 years [Note 32]
Sexual abuse of a minor in the second degreeWyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 6-2-315Up to 20 years
Sexual abuse of a minor in the third degreeWyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 6-2-316Up to 15 years

Territory

American Samoa

The laws of American Samoa distinguished between rape, sexual assault, sodomy and deviate sexual assault. [73]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
RapeA.S.C.A. 46.36045 to 15 years [Note 33]
Sexual assaultA.S.C.A. 46.3610Up to 7 years [Note 34]
Sodomy [Note 1] A.S.C.A. 46.36115 to 15 years [Note 33]
Deviate sexual assaultA.S.C.A. 46.3612Up to 7 years [Note 34]

Guam

In Guam, the law distinguishes between four degrees of criminal sexual conduct, the three first involving penetration. [74]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct9 GCA Ch. 25, §25.15Life without parole, life with parole or at least 15 years
Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct9 GCA Ch. 25, §25.205 to 20 years
Third Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct9 GCA Ch. 25, §25.253 to 10 years

Northern Mariana Islands

In the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the offense of Sexual assault is divided in four degrees, of which the three first involve penetration.

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual Assault in the First Degree6 CMC §130130 years or less
Sexual Assault in the Second Degree6 CMC §13022 to 15 years
Sexual Assault in the Third Degree6 CMC §13031 to 5 years

Puerto Rico

In Puerto Rico, there is only the crime of Sexual Assault (Agresión sexual) [75]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Sexual Assault (Agresión sexual)33 L.P.R.A. § 519150 years or less

Virgin Islands

In the American Virgin Islands, the offense of rape is divided in three degrees, and a separate offense of Aggravated rape is further divided in two degrees. [76]

OffenseArticleMandatory sentencing
Aggravated Rape in the First Degree14 V.I.C. §1700Life or sentence of 15 years at least [Note 35]
Aggravated Rape in the Second Degree14 V.I.C. §1700aLife or sentence of 10 years at least [Note 36]
Rape in the First Degree14 V.I.C. §170110 to 30 years
Rape in the Second Degree14 V.I.C. §170210 years or less
Rape in the Third Degree14 V.I.C. §1703N/A [Note 37]

Notes and references

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prosecution banned in consensual cases as per Lawrence v. Texas .
  2. Since 1986, there is no parole in the federal system.
  3. Life or any lesser sentence of years, with a mandatory minimum of dismissal or dishonorable discharge.
  4. For the first offense, presumptive ranges are as follows:
    1. If the victim is less than 13 years of age: 25 to 35 years' imprisonment.
    2. If the victim is 13 years of age or older: 20 to 30 years' imprisonment.
    3. If the offender used a dangerous instrument, a firearm, or caused serious physical injury: 25 to 35 years' imprisonment.
    Offenders who have been previously convicted of felonies face additional time in prison.
  5. Lists of circumstances:
    1. with a victim under 18 years of age (punishable by up to one year's imprisonment);
    2.  with a victim where the offender is over the age of 21 and the victim is under 16 (punishable as a felony);
    3. with a victim who is under 14 years of age and more than 10 years younger than the offender (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment);
    4. with a victim and accomplishing the act by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or any other person (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment);
    5. with a victim who is under 14 years of age by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person (punishable by 9, 11, or 13 years' imprisonment);
    6. with a victim who is a minor older than 14 years of age by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person (punishable by 7, 9, or 11 years' imprisonment);
    7. with a victim and accomplishing the act by threatening to retaliate in the future against the victim or any other person and there is a reasonable possibility that the perpetrator will execute the threat (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years);
    8. with a victim by, acting or by aiding and abetting another, and accomplishes the act by means of force or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person or where the act is accomplished against the victim's will by threatening to retaliate in the future against the victim or any other person and there is a reasonable possibility that the perpetrator will execute the threat (punishable by 5, 7 or 9 years' imprisonment);
    9. with a victim who is under 14 years of age, while acting in concert with another person, either personally or aiding and abetting another, and accomplishing the act against the victim's will by means of force or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person (punishable by 10, 12, or 14 years' imprisonment);
    10. with a minor who is older than 14 years of age, while acting in concert with another person and either personally committing the act or aiding and abetting another person, and accomplishing the act by means of force or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person (punishable by 7, 9, or 11 years' imprisonment);
    11. with a victim of any age while confined in a detention facility (punishable by less than 1 year's imprisonment);
    12. with a victim who is unconscious of the nature of the act (incapable of resisting because they are asleep or unconscious; not aware, knowing, perceiving, or cognizant of the act; was not aware or cognizant of the essential characteristics of the act due to the perpetrator's fraud in fact; or was not aware or cognizant of the essential characteristics of the act due to the perpetrator's fraudulent representation that the sexual penetration served a professional purpose when it did not) and this is known to the person committing the act (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment);
    13. with a victim who is incapable of giving consent due to mental disorder or physical or developmental disability and the offender knows (or should have known) the victim is unable to consent (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment);
    14. with a victim who is incapable of giving consent due to mental disorder or disability and the offender knows (or should have known) the victim is unable to consent BUT at the time both the offender and victim were institutionalized for the treatment of mental disorders (punishable by less than 1 year's imprisonment);
    15. with a victim who is prevented from resisting by a substance and the offender knew (or should have known) of the victim's condition (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment);
    16. with a victim who submits under the belief that the person committing the act is someone known to the victim other than the accused, and this belief is induced by any artifice, pretense, or concealment practiced by the accused, with intent to induce the belief (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment); or
    17. with a victim where the act is accomplished by threatening to use the authority of a public official to incarcerate, arrest, or deport the victim or another and the victim has a reasonable belief that the perpetrator is a public official (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years).
  6. Victim:
    1. who is under the age of 18 (punishable by up to 1 year's imprisonment);
    2. who is under 16 years of age and the offender is over 21 years of age (punishable as a felony);
    3. who is under 14 years of age and more than 10 years younger than the offender (punishable by imprisonment of 3, 6, or 8 years);
    4. where the act is accomplished against the victim's will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment);
    5. who is under 14 years of age and the act is accomplished against the victim's will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person (punishable by 8, 10, or 12 years' imprisonment);
    6. who is a minor older than 14 years of age and the act is accomplished against the victim's will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person (punishable by 6, 8, or 10, years’ imprisonment);
    7. where the act is accomplished against the victim's will by threatening to retaliate in the future against the victim or any other person and there is a reasonable possibility that the perpetrator will execute the threat (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment);
    8. while acting in concert with another person, either personally or by aiding and abetting the other person and : (1) the act is accomplished against the victim's will by means of force or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person; or (2) the act is accomplished against the victim's will by threatening to retaliate in the future against the victim or any other person and there is a reasonable possibility that the perpetrator will execute the threat; or (3) the victim is at the time incapable of consenting because of a mental disorder or disability and the offender knew or reasonably should have known (punishable by 5, 7, or 9 years' imprisonment);
    9. while acting in concert with another person, either personally or aiding and abetting the other person, and the victim is under 14 years of age and the act is accomplished against the victim's will by means of force or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person (punishable by 10, 12, or 14 years' imprisonment);
    10. while acting in concert with another person, either personally or aiding and abetting the other person and the victim is a minor over 14 years of age and the act is accomplished against the victim's will by means of force or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person (punishable by 8, 10, or 12 years' imprisonment);
    11. who  is confined in a prison at the time (punishable by not more than 1 year's imprisonment);
    12. who is unconscious of the nature of the act (incapable of resisting because they are asleep or unconscious; not aware, knowing, perceiving, or cognizant of the act; not aware or cognizant of the essential characteristics of the act due to the perpetrator's fraud in fact; or not aware or cognizant of the essential characteristics of the act due to the perpetrator's fraudulent representation that the sexual penetration served a professional purpose when it did not), and this is known to the offender (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment)
    13. who is incapable of consenting because of mental disorder or disability, and the offender knew or reasonably should have known (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment);
    14. who is incapable of consenting because of mental disorder or disability, and the offender knew or reasonably should have known but both the victim and offender are institutionalized for treatment of mental disorders (punishable by up to 1 year's imprisonment);
    15. who is prevented from resisting because of a substance and the offender knew or should have known (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years);
    16. who submits under the belief that the offender is someone known to the victim other than the accused, and this belief is induced by any artifice, pretense, or concealment practiced by the accused, with intent to induce the belief(punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment); or
    17. where the act is accomplished against the victim's will by threatening to use the authority of a public official to incarcerate, arrest, or deport the victim or another and the victim has a reasonable belief that the perpetrator is a public official (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment).
  7. When:
    1. against a victim's will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment);
    2. upon a child who is under 14 years old and the act is accomplished by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person (punishable by 8,10, or 12 years' imprisonment);
    3. upon a minor who is over 14 years old and the act is accomplished by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person (punishable by 6, 8, or 10 years' imprisonment);
    4. against the victim's will by threatening to retaliate in the future against the victim or any other person and there is a reasonable possibility that the perpetrator will execute the threat (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment);
    5. where the victim is incapable of consenting because of mental disorder or disability and the offender knew or should have known that the victim was unable to consent (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment);
    6. where the victim is incapable of consenting because of mental disorder or disability and the offender knew or should have known that the victim was unable to consent BUT at the time both the victim and offender were institutionalized for treatment for mental disorders (punishable by not more than one year's imprisonment); or
    7. with a victim who is unconscious of the nature of the act (incapable of resisting because they are asleep or unconscious; not aware, knowing, perceiving, or cognizant of the act; not aware or cognizant of the essential characteristics of the act due to the perpetrator's fraud in fact; or not aware or cognizant of the essential characteristics of the act due to the perpetrator's fraudulent representation that the sexual penetration served a professional purpose when it did not) (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment);
    8. with a victim who is prevented from resisting by a substance and the offender knew or should have known the victim's condition (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment)
    9. with a victim who submits under the belief that the person committing the act or causing the act to be committed is someone known to the victim other than the accused, and this belief is induced by any artifice, pretense, or concealment practiced by the accused, with intent to induce the belief (punishable by 3, 6, or, 8 years' imprisonment)
    10. against a victim's will by threatening to use the authority of a public official to incarcerate, arrest, or deport the victim or another, and the victim has a reasonable belief that the perpetrator is a public official (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years)
    11. with another person who is under 18 years of age (punishable by less than 1 year's imprisonment)
    12. with a victim under the age of 16 and the offender is above the age of 21 (punishable as a felony)
    13. with a victim who is under the age of 14 and the offender is more than 10 years older (punishable by 3, 6, or 8 years' imprisonment)
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Death penalty banned for non-fatal rapes as per Kennedy v. Louisiana .
  9. Cases:
    1. A defendant convicted of criminal sexual assault under (1) or (2), and was previously convicted of criminal sexual assault or exploitation of a child, or an offense either in Illinois or another state that is substantially equivalent, commits a Class X felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than 30 years and not more than 60 years, except that if defendant is under the age of 18 at the time of the offense, defendant shall be sentenced under Section 5-4.5-105 of the U.S. Code of Corrections.
    2. A defendant who has attained the age of 18 at the time of the commission of the offense and who is convicted of criminal sexual assault under (1) or (2), and was previously convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault or predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, of a child, or an offense either in Illinois or another state that is substantially equivalent, shall be sentenced to a term of natural life imprisonment. A person who is under the age of 18 at the time of commission of the offense shall be sentenced under Section 5-4.5-105 of the Unified Code of Corrections.
    3. A second or subsequent conviction under (3) or (4), or under any similar statute of Illinois or another state, is a Class X felony.
  10. Cases:
    1. A defendant convicted under (A)(2) – (7), (B), or (C) commits a Class X felony.
    2. A defendant convicted under (A)(1) commits a Class X felony for which 10 years shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court.
    3. A defendant convicted under (A)(8) commits a Class X felony for which 15 years shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court.
    4. A defendant convicted under (A)(9) commits a Class X felony for which 20 years shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court.
    5. A defendant convicted under (A)(10) commits a Class X felony for which 25 years or up to a term of natural life imprisonment shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court.
    6. A defendant under the age of 18 at the time of the commission of an offense for which defendant is convicted under (A)(1) – (A)(10) shall be sentenced under Section 5-4.5-105 of the Unified Code of Corrections.
    7. A defendant who has attained the age of 18 at the time of the commission of the offense and who is convicted of a second or subsequent conviction for this offense, or a previous conviction for criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, or an offense either in Illinois or another state that is substantially equivalent, will result in a sentence of a term of natural life imprisonment. A person who is under the age of 18 at the time of commission of the offense shall be sentenced under Section 5-4.5-105 of the Unified Code of Corrections.
  11. Cases:
    1. A defendant convicted under (1) commits a Class X felony, for which defendant shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 6 years and not more than 60 years.
    2. A defendant convicted under (2)(a) commits a Class X felony for which 15 years shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court.
    3. A defendant convicted under (2)(b) commits a Class X felony for which 20 years shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court.
    4. A defendant who has attained the age of 18 and who is convicted under (2)(c) commits a Class X felony for which defendant shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 50 years or up to a term of natural life imprisonment.
    5. A defendant who is convicted under (1), (2)(a), (2)(b) or (2)(c) and who is under the age of 18 at the time of commission of the offense shall be sentenced under Section 5-4.5-105 of the Unified Code of Corrections.
    6. A defendant convicted under (2)(d) commits a Class X felony for which defendant shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 50 years and not more than 60 years.  A defendant who is under the age of 18 at the time of commission of the offense, however,  shall be sentenced under Section 5-4.5-105 of the Unified Code of Corrections.
    7. A defendant who has attained the age of 18 at the time of commission of the offense and is convicted of an offense committed against 2 or more persons, regardless of whether the offenses occurred as a result of the same act or of several related or unrelated acts, shall be sentenced to a term of natural life imprisonment.  A defendant who is under the age of 18 at the time of commission of the offense shall be sentenced under Section 5-4.5-105 of the Unified Code of Corrections.
    8. If defendant is eighteen years old or older, a second or subsequent conviction for this offense, or a previous conviction for criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, or an offense either in Illinois or another state that is substantially equivalent, will result in a sentence of a term of natural life imprisonment.  A defendant who is under the age of 18 at the time of commission of the offense shall be sentenced under Section 5-4.5-105 of the Unified Code of Corrections.
  12. Cases:
    1. Non-consensual intercourse by force or force or with a victim that is unconscious or physically powerless is a severity level 1, person felony
    2. Sexual intercourse with a child under 14 is a severity level 1, person felony
    3. Sexual intercourse through the two types of knowing misrepresentation listed above is a severity level 2, person felony
  13. Cases:
    1. Sexual intercourse with a child between 14 and 16 is a severity level 3, person felony
    2. Engaging in the listed lewd acts with a child 14–16 years old is a severity level 4, person felony
    3. Engaging in the listed lewd acts with a child younger than 14 is a severity level 3, person felony
  14. 1 2 Cases:
    1. Sodomy between two people who are over 16 years of age or between a person and an animal is a class B, nonperson misdemeanor.
    2. Sodomy with a 14–16 year old or forcing a 14–16 year old to have sodomy is a severity level 3, person felony.
    3. Sodomy with a non-consenting victim or forcing someone to engage in sodomy is a severity level 1, person felony.
    4. Sodomy with a child under 14 or with a victim who does not consent to sodomy but is overcome by fear or force, is unconscious or physically powerless, or is incapable of giving consent is a severity level 1, person felony
  15. Cases:
    1. Compelling sexual acts is a class A crime.
    2. A sexual act with someone under 14 is a class A crime.
    3. A sexual act with someone under 12 is a class A crime.
    4. A sexual act with someone who the offender has in some way intoxicated is a class B crime.
    5. A sexual act by threat is a class B crime.
    6. A sexual act with a person with mental disability is a class B crime.
    7. A sexual act with someone who is unconscious or is otherwise unable to physically resist is a class B crime.
    8. A sexual act, as described above, by a person in an authoritative or disciplinary capacity is a class C crime.
    9. A sexual act with a student under 18 when the offender has an instructional, supervisory, or disciplinary authority over the victim is a class C crime.
    10. A sexual act with a minor by someone in charge of the long-term care and welfare of that person is a class B crime.
    11. A sexual act by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker with a client is a class C crime.
    12. A sexual act by an owner, operator, or employee of an organization licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services on a client of that organization is a class C crime.
    13. A sexual act on a dependent person who is unable to provide self-care is a class C crime.
  16. Cases:
    1. If rape results in or is committed along with acts resulting in serious bodily injury, is committed by a joint enterprise, or is committed during the commission or attempted commission of certain dangerous felonies, it is punishable by life imprisonment or any term of years.
    2. Rape without one of the above factors is punishable by state imprisonment not more than 20 years.  Repeat offenders shall be punished up to life imprisonment.
    3. Committing rape while armed with a firearm or assault weapon is punishable by at least 10 years in state prison. Whoever commits a second or subsequent such offense shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years, but not less than 15 years.
  17. For a first conviction.
  18. Depending from the victim's age.
  19. 1 2 Minimum of 10 years when victim under 16.
  20. 6 months or less if defendant less than four years older than the minor.
  21. Penetration or oral sex.
  22. Less than 20 years when Statutory Rape.
  23. Up to 5 years when victim under offender's authority.
  24. 1 2 Aggravated cases:
    1. If the victim is under the age of 13 years and defendant is more than 3 years older than the victim, and the act is done in the commission of, or as part of the same course of conduct as, or as part of a common scheme/plan of any kidnapping, burglary, or assault, then the punishment must include a mandatory minimum term of 25 years;
    2. If the victim is under the age of 13 years and defendant was 18 years of age or older at the time of the offense, the punishment must include a mandatory minimum term of life imprisonment without parole.
  25. Cases:
    1. If defendant is convicted under (A) - victim between 13 and 15 -, then defendant is guilty of a Class 4 felony, imprisonment of not less than two years nor more than 10 years and a fine of not more than $100,000.
    2. If defendant is convicted under (B) - victim between 13 and 15 who consented and the defendant is minor but 3 years senior -, then defendant is guilty of a Class 6 felony, term of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than five years, or in the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both.
    3. If defendant is convicted under (C) - victim between 13 and 15 who consented and the defendant is minor but less than 3 years the child’s senior -, then defendant is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor,  a term of imprisonment of not less than two years nor more than 10 years and a fine of not more than $100,000.
  26. Cases:
    1. If defendant is convicted under (A) -prison guard -, then defendant is guilty of a Class 6 felony, term of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than five years, or in the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both
    2. If defendant is convicted under (B) - defendant is a bond bondsman -, then defendant is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, confinement in jail for not more than twelve months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both.
  27. If offender 18 years of age or older and victim is younger than 12 years of age then sentence is from 25 years to 100.
  28. If offender 18 years of age or older and victim is younger than 12 years of age then sentence is from 5 years to 25 years.
  29. Cases
    1. Whoever has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who has not attained the age of 13 years and causes great bodily harm to the person is guilty of a Class A felony and subject to a 25 year mandatory minimum;
    2. Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who has not attained the age of 12 years is guilty of a Class B felony and subject to a 25 year mandatory minimum;
    3. Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who has not attained the age of 16 years by use of threat of force or violence is guilty of a Class B felony and subject to a 25 year mandatory minimum;
    4. Whoever has sexual contact with a person who has not attained the age of 16 years by use or threat of force or violence is guilty of a Class B felony if the actor is at least 18 years of age when the sexual contact occurs and is subject to a 5 year mandatory minimum;
    5. Whoever has sexual contact with a person who has not attained the age of 13 years is guilty of a Class B felony.
  30. Minimum of 25 years for prior offenders, and life without parole when prior conviction for sexual abuse of a minor or when two or more previous convictions for sexual assault or sexual abuse of a minor.
  31. 1 2 Minimum of 25 years and maximum of life for prior offenders, and life without parole when prior conviction for sexual abuse of a minor or when two or more previous convictions for sexual assault or sexual abuse of a minor.
  32. Minimum of 25 years if victim under 13 and criminal over 21.
  33. 1 2 Sentence of life or any term between 10 and 30 years if the actor inflicts serious physical injury on any person or displays a deadly weapon
  34. 1 2 5 to 15 years if the actor inflicts serious physical injury on any person or displays a deadly weapon in a threatening manner.
  35. Life or sentence of 25 years at least for any subsequent offense.
  36. Life or sentence of 25 years at least for any subsequent offense.
  37. The perpetrator is subject to the jurisdiction of the Family Division of the Superior Court. In lieu of a term of detention, the court, in its discretion, may recommend appropriate treatment, counseling or family planning.

Related Research Articles

Sexual assault is an act in which one intentionally sexually touches another person without that person's consent, or coerces or physically forces a person to engage in a sexual act against their will. It is a form of sexual violence that includes child sexual abuse, groping, rape, drug facilitated sexual assault, and the torture of the person in a sexual manner.

The precise definitions of and punishments for aggravated sexual assault and aggravated rape vary by country and by legislature within a country.

The Consenting Adult Sex Law is a Californian piece of legislation which decriminalized private and consensual gay sex. Its main promoters were George Moscone, an early proponent of gay rights, and his friend and ally Willie Brown, who was serving in the California Assembly at the time. The bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 21 to 20 and in the Assembly by a vote of 45 to 26. It was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on May 12, 1975, which came into effect in January 1976.

The legal age of consent for sexual activity varies by jurisdiction across Asia. The specific activity engaged in or the gender of participants can also be relevant factors. Below is a discussion of the various laws dealing with this subject. The highlighted age refers to an age at or above which an individual can engage in unfettered sexual relations with another who is also at or above that age. Other variables, such as homosexual relations or close in age exceptions, may exist, and are noted when relevant.

The ages of consent for sexual activity vary from age 15 to 18 across Australia, New Zealand and other parts of Oceania. The specific activity and the gender of its participants is also addressed by the law. The minimum age is the age at or above which an individual can engage in unfettered sexual relations with another person of minimum age. Close in age exceptions may exist and are noted where applicable. In Vanuatu the homosexual age of consent is set higher at 18, while the heterosexual age of consent is 15. Same sex sexual activity is illegal at any age for males in Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Samoa, Niue, Tonga and Tuvalu; it is outlawed for both men and women in the Solomon Islands. In all other places the age of consent is independent of sexual orientation or gender.

The ages of consent vary by jurisdiction across Europe. The ages of consent – hereby meaning the age from which one is deemed able to consent to having sex with anyone else of consenting age or above – are between 14 and 18. The vast majority of countries set their ages in the range of 14 to 16; only four countries, Cyprus (17), Ireland (17), Turkey (18), and the Vatican City (18), set an age of consent higher than 16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ages of consent in North America</span> Age of consent for sexual activity in countries in North America

In North America, the legal age of consent relating to sexual activity varies by jurisdiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ages of consent in Africa</span> Ages of consent for sexual activity in the countries of Africa

The age of consent in Africa for sexual activity varies by jurisdiction across the continent, codified in laws which may also stipulate the specific activities that are permitted or the gender of participants for different ages. Other variables may exist, such as close-in-age exemptions.

Rape is a type of sexual assault initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, under threat or manipulation, by impersonation, or with a person who is incapable of giving valid consent.

Laws regarding incest vary considerably between jurisdictions, and depend on the type of sexual activity and the nature of the family relationship of the parties involved, as well as the age and sex of the parties. Besides legal prohibitions, at least some forms of incest are also socially taboo or frowned upon in most cultures around the world.

Laws against child sexual abuse vary by country based on the local definition of who a child is and what constitutes child sexual abuse. Most countries in the world employ some form of age of consent, with sexual contact with an underage person being criminally penalized. As the age of consent to sexual behaviour varies from country to country, so too do definitions of child sexual abuse. An adult's sexual intercourse with a minor below the legal age of consent may sometimes be referred to as statutory rape, based on the principle that any apparent consent by a minor could not be considered legal consent.

In common law jurisdictions, statutory rape is nonforcible sexual activity in which one of the individuals is below the age of consent. Although it usually refers to adults engaging in sexual contact with minors under the age of consent, it is a generic term, and very few jurisdictions use the actual term statutory rape in the language of statutes. In statutory rape, overt force or threat is usually not present. Statutory rape laws presume coercion because a minor or mentally disabled adult is legally incapable of giving consent to the act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodomy law</span> Laws criminalising certain sexual acts

A sodomy law is a law that defines certain sexual acts as crimes. The precise sexual acts meant by the term sodomy are rarely spelled out in the law, but are typically understood and defined by many courts and jurisdictions to include any or all forms of sexual acts that are deemed to be "illegal", "illicit", "unlawful", "unnatural" and/or "immoral". Sodomy typically includes anal sex, oral sex, manual sex, and bestiality. In practice, sodomy laws have rarely been enforced to target against sexual activities between individuals of the opposite-sex, and have mostly been used to target against sexual activities between individuals of the same-sex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ages of consent in the United States</span> U.S. law on age of consent to sexual activity

In the United States, each state and territory sets the age of consent either by statute or the common law applies, and there are several federal statutes related to protecting minors from sexual predators. Depending on the jurisdiction, the legal age of consent is between 16 and 18. In some places, civil and criminal laws within the same state conflict with each other.

Rape is a statutory offence in England and Wales. The offence is created by section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003:

(1) A person (A) commits an offence if—

(2) Whether a belief is reasonable is to be determined having regard to all the circumstances, including any steps A has taken to ascertain whether B consents.
(3) Sections 75 and 76 apply to an offence under this section.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Criminal law of the United States</span>

Criminal law is a system of laws that is connected with crimes and punishments of an individual who commits crimes. In comparison, civil law is where the case argues their issues with one entity to another entity with support of the law. Crimes can vary in definition by jurisdiction but the basis for a crime are fairly consistent regardless.

Marital rape is illegal in all 50 US states, though the details of the offence vary by state.

Capital punishment is a legal penalty in the U.S. state of Montana.

Rape in Alabama is currently defined across three sections of its Criminal Code: Definitions, Rape in the First Degree, and Rape in the Second Degree. Each section addresses components of the crime such as age, sentencing, the genders of the individuals involved, and the acts involved.

Sexual consent plays an important role in laws regarding rape, sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence. In a court of law, whether or not the alleged victim had freely given consent, and whether or not they were deemed to be capable of giving consent, can determine whether the alleged perpetrator is guilty of rape, sexual assault or some other form of sexual misconduct.

References

  1. "Rape". FBI. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  2. 1 2 3 Carol E. Tracy, Terry L. Fromson, Jennifer Gentile Long, Charlene Whitman (5 June 2012). "Rape and sexual assault in the legal system" (PDF). Women’s Law Project, AEquitas. Retrieved 7 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Center, Marshall University Forensic Science. "Federal Sex Offense Laws | Sexual Violence and Stalking Laws | West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (WV FRIS)". www.fris.org. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  4. "Military Sexual Assault: The Basics". Findlaw. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  5. "10 U.S. Code § 920.Art. 120. Rape and sexual assault generally". Uniform Code of Military Justice . Legal Information Institute . Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  6. "District of Columbia Rape and Sexual Assault Laws – FindLaw". Findlaw. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  7. "WomensLaw.org | Alabama Statutes: Section 13A-6-62. Rape in the second degree". www.womenslaw.org. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  8. "The Laws In Your State: Alabama | RAINN". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  9. "The Laws In Your State: Arizona | RAINN". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  10. "The Laws In Your State: Arkansas". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
  11. "The Laws In Your State: California". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
  12. "The Laws In Your State: Colorado". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
  13. "The Laws In Your State: Connecticut". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
  14. "The Laws In Your State: Delaware". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
  15. "The Laws In Your State: Florida". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
  16. "794.011 Sexual battery". Florida Statutes. 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  17. "Consent Laws Florida". rainn.org. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. March 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  18. "The Laws In Your State: Georgia". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
  19. "The Laws In Your State: Hawaii". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-06-27.
  20. "The Laws In Your State: Idaho". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-06-27.
  21. "The Laws In Your State: Illinois". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-06-27.
  22. "Consent Laws Illinois". rainn.org. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. March 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  23. "Criminal Code of 2012. Article 11: Sex Offenses". Illinois Compiled Statutes . Illinois General Assembly. 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  24. "The Laws In Your State: Indiana". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  25. "The Laws In Your State: Iowa". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  26. "The Laws In Your State: Kansas". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  27. "The Laws In Your State: Kentucky | RAINN". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  28. "The Laws In Your State: Louisiana". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  29. "The Laws In Your State: Maine". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  30. "The Laws In Your State: Maryland". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  31. "The Laws In Your State: Massachusetts". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  32. "The Laws In Your State: Michigan". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  33. "The Laws In Your State: Minnesota". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  34. Revisor.mn.gov
  35. Revisor.mn.gov
  36. Vera, Amir (2019-05-03). "Marital rape is no longer legal in Minnesota with new law". CNN. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
  37. Dana Ferguson (2 May 2019). "Walz signs repeal of marital rape exemption in Minnesota – Twin Cities". Twincities.com. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
  38. "Voluntarily intoxicated rape victims aren't 'mentally incapacitated,' top state court rules".
  39. "The Laws In Your State: Mississippi". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  40. "The Laws In Your State: Missouri". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  41. "The Laws In Your State: Montana". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  42. "The Laws In Your State: Nebraska". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  43. "The Laws In Your State: Nevada". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  44. "The Laws In Your State: New Hampshire". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  45. "The Laws In Your State: New Jersey". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  46. "The Laws In Your State: New Mexico". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  47. "The Laws In Your State: New York". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  48. "Article 130. Sex Offenses". New York State Senate. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  49. "Consent Laws New York". rainn.org. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. March 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  50. "The Laws In Your State: North Carolina". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  51. Art. XI, § 2, Const. 1868
  52. "The Laws In Your State: North Dakota". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  53. "The Laws In Your State: Ohio". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  54. "The Laws In Your State: Oklahoma". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  55. "The Laws In Your State: Oregon | RAINN". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  56. "The Laws In Your State: Pennsylvania". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  57. "Chapter 31 – Sexual Offenses". Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes . Pennsylvania General Assembly. July 23, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  58. "Consent Laws Pennsylvania". rainn.org. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. March 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  59. "The Laws In Your State: Rhode Island". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  60. "The Laws In Your State: South Carolina". RAINN. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  61. "The Laws In Your State: South Dakota". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
  62. "The Laws In Your State: Tennessee". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
  63. "The Laws In Your State: Texas". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
  64. Paul Saputo (2019). "Texas Sexual Assault Law". Saputo.law. Saputo Law Firm. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  65. "Consent Laws Texas". rainn.org. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. March 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  66. "The Laws In Your State: Utah". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
  67. "The Laws In Your State: Vermont". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  68. "The Laws In Your State: Virginia". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  69. "The Laws In Your State: Washington". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  70. "The Laws In Your State: West Virginia | RAINN". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
  71. "The Laws In Your State: Wisconsin | RAINN". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
  72. "The Laws In Your State: Wyoming | RAINN". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
  73. "Code Annotated". www.asbar.org. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  74. "The Laws In Your State: Guam | RAINN". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  75. "The Laws In Your State: Puerto Rico | RAINN". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
  76. "The Laws In Your State: Virgin Islands | RAINN". www.rainn.org. Retrieved 2019-12-04.