Sexual assault can be defined as any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient of the unwanted sexual activity. Falling under the definition of sexual assault is sexual activity such as forced sexual intercourse, sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape. Some more specific examples of sexual assault include:

• Unwanted vaginal, anal, or oral penetration with any object
• Forcing an individual to perform or receive oral sex
• Forcing an individual to masturbate, or to masturbate someone else
• Forcing an individual to look at sexually explicit material or forcing an individual to pose for sexually explicit pictures
• Touching, fondling, kissing, and any other unwanted sexual contact with an individual's body
• Exposure and/or flashing of sexual body parts

In general, state law assumes that a person does not consent to sexual activity if he or she is forced, threatened, unconscious, drugged, a minor, developmentally disabled, chronically mentally ill, or believe they are undergoing a medical procedure.

Perpetrators of sexual assault can be strangers, friends, acquaintances, or family members. Often, perpetrators commit sexual assault by way of violence, threats, coercion, manipulation, pressure, or tricks. In extreme cases, sexual assault may involve the use of force which may include, but is not limited to:

• Physical violence
• Use or display of a weapon
• Immobilization of victim

More often, however, sexual assault involves psychological coercion and taking advantage of an individual who is incapacitated or under duress and, therefore, is incapable of making a decision on his or her own.

Source: Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)