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The Definition Of Rape In The United States

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Even though the term rape has has been revised countless times and is still in debate today. It is in general defined as to force someone to engage in sexual intercourse by using threats or violence. More specifically and legally the definition of rape can be defined as “the commission of unlawful sexual intercourse or unlawful sexual intrusion.” Not only is it’s definition ever changing but it also varies from state to state. This of course causes some problems in the grey areas as to what constitutes as rape. Most states have decided to label rape as sexual assault and sexual assault is split up into categories known as degrees.

Defined by the California penal code (261) rape is an act of sexual intercourse accomplished with a person not the spouse of the perpetrator, under any of the listed circumstances. When a person is not capable of giving legal consent due to a mental disorder, developmental disability, or a physical disability. And when sexual intercourse is accomplished against someone's will by force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of bodily damage on the person or another. …show more content…
Statutory rape involves sexual intercourse involving someone below the “age of consent”. Being below the age of consent means that legally you cannot consent to sex. Statutory rape laws often vary by state, with states defining the age of consent differently, as well as using different names to refer to this crime. Many states punish statutory rape under laws addressing sexual assault. There are not very many federal laws dealing with statutory

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