Sex offenses are acts of interpersonal violence and non-consensual sexual acts including:

• sexual assault
• domestic violence
• dating violence
• stalking

Sexual assault occurs when physical sexual activity is engaged in without the consent of the other person. The conduct may include:

• Physical force, violence, threat or intimidation
• Ignoring the objections of the other person
• Causing the other person’s intoxication or impairment through the use of drugs or alcohol
• Taking advantage of the other person’s incapacitation (including voluntary intoxication), state of intimidation, or other inability to consent
• Sexual battery

Behavior that includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or psychological abuse by a current or former spouse, by a person with whom the complainant shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting or has cohabited with the complainant as a spouse, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the complainant under the laws of the jurisdiction, or any other person against an adult or youth survivor who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic violence laws.

Behavior that includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or psychological abuse committed by a person who has been in a relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the complainant. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on consideration of factors such as length of relationship, type of relationship, and frequency of interaction between persons involved in the relationship.

Behavior in which a person repeatedly engages in conduct directed at a specific person that places that person in reasonable fear of his or her safety or the safety of others.

An "Attempt" occurs when anyone attempts to commit a sex offense but fails, or is prevented or intercepted in its perpetration.

Consent is positive cooperation involving an act of free will, absent of coercion, intimidation, force, or the threat of force.

A person cannot give effective consent if he/she is unable to appreciate the nature of the sexual act, as with a person who has a disability that would impair understanding of the act or if a person is impaired by the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Abuse means intentionally or recklessly causing or attempting to cause bodily injury, or placing another person in reasonable fear of imminent serious bodily injury to himself or herself or another. Abuse may include:

• Physical abuse involves acts such as hitting, slapping, pushing, punching, kicking, and choking. It could involve using a weapon or object to threaten or hurt someone. It also includes throwing, smashing, or breaking personal items and hurting or killing of pets.
• Sexual abuse involves pressuring or forcing someone to engage in non-consensual sexual acts, including creating pictures or videos.
• Verbal abuse involves put downs, name calling, yelling or swearing.
• Emotional abuse involves ignoring someone or using looks or actions or speaking in ways that are frightening or threatening.

Sexual misconduct is non-consensual sexual activity that does not involve touching, for example:

• Electronically recording, photographing, or transmitting intimate or sexual utterances, sounds, or images of another person
• Allowing third parties to observe sexual acts
• Engaging in voyeurism
• Exposing oneself