What does sexual assault include?

What does sexual assault include?

• A. Rape, statutory rape, incest, sodomy, lewd acts upon a child, oral copulation, and child molestation.
• B. Rape and harassment only.
• C. Statutory rape, incest, and fraud.
• D. Any sexual act between adults.

Answer: (C)

Sexual assault in this context means illegal or coercive sexual acts involving a minor. Statutory rape and incest are clear examples of such offenses, which is why the option that includes those terms fits the concept best among the choices. Statutory rape involves sexual activity with someone under the legal age, and incest involves sexual contact with a close family member; both are offenses that require reporting when a child is involved. The other options mix in items that aren’t consistently recognized as sexual assault against a child (for example, harassment or acts between adults) or introduce terms not about sexual acts. In policy practice, recognizing statutory rape and incest as forms of sexual assault helps ensure mandatory reporting when a child is involved.

Sexual assault in this context means illegal or coercive sexual acts involving a minor. Statutory rape and incest are clear examples of such offenses, which is why the option that includes those terms fits the concept best among the choices. Statutory rape involves sexual activity with someone under the legal age, and incest involves sexual contact with a close family member; both are offenses that require reporting when a child is involved. The other options mix in items that aren’t consistently recognized as sexual assault against a child (for example, harassment or acts between adults) or introduce terms not about sexual acts. In policy practice, recognizing statutory rape and incest as forms of sexual assault helps ensure mandatory reporting when a child is involved.