SEXUAL ASSAULT
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Sexual assault is any forced, unwanted sexual contact against any individual, or any sexual contact against a child under the age of twelve years old. Sexual assault is a violent crime. Examples of sexual assault include rape, sodomy, and sexual battery. Sometimes these crimes are committed by a stranger, sometimes by friends or acquaintances, and sometimes by family members. Sexual assault may be committed through the use of force, threat, or intimidation, or enabled because the victim is incapacitated due to drugs, alcohol, or mental disability. Due to the nature of this crime, victims of sexual assault may have a number of concerns. This page contains some information that may be of special significance to individuals who have experienced this type of victimization.