Sexual Assault Information & Resources
Definitions
Rape and sexual assault are, above all, criminal actions defined by lack of consent.
Giving consent means freely communicating through words or actions, your agreement to engage in sexual activity. Silence, a past sexual relationship, a current relationship or the use of alcohol and/or other drugs by the perpetrator are not excuses for rape of sexual assault and not imply consent.
Sexual Assault includes, but is not limited to, actual or attempted nonconsensual or forcible sexual touching, including fondling, kissing, groping, attempted sexual intercourse, digital penetration and/or penetration with an object. Sexual Assault can be perpetrated by someone known or unknown, including an acquaintance, spouse, partner, date, relative, friend or stranger. It can be perpetrated by men or women.
Rape is nonconsensual sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse is characterized by penetration, which may be oral, vaginal or anal, by either a body part or an object. Rape may include an implicit or explicit threat and/or use of force. Rape also includes those circumstances in which an individual is not capable of giving consent because s/he is intoxicated, unconscious, physically incapacitated, mentally impaired or under the age of 16.
Date Rape is non-consensual sexual intercourse by a friend or acquaintance