The 14 Types of Sexual Assault & Sex Crimes

November 23, 2022

There are many types of sexual assault that a perpetrator can commit. Here are the different types of sex crimes that can happen to anyone.

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Not all sex crimes and sexual assaults look the same. There are many types of sexual assault that a perpetrator can commit. Some affect one demographic or all people. All are life-changing, terrible acts. When healing from a sexual crime, helping someone through the experience, or reporting one, it may help you to understand the different types of sex crimes that can happen in our society.

Sexual Assault

This is where someone is forced to perform sexual acts or forced to have sexual acts performed on them. It is a situation where consent is not an option. Sexual assault can happen in any situation where a power dynamic is present (guard-prisoner), or date rape, for instance.

Child Sexual Abuse

Also known as molestation, this is the act of touching a child or raping a child. Children cannot consent so consent is irrelevant in this situation. Child rape or sexual assault often tends to be committed by close family friends, or even relatives of the child.

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence

There is a misconception that rape cannot be perpetrated by someone in a consensual relationship. However, consent must be provided each time someone has sex, regardless of the nature of the relationship. Intimate partner violence is what results if someone forces their partner to have sex or do sex acts.

Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault

This type of sexual assault involves the victim being incapacitated by drugs or alcohol (often referred to as “roofied” or “spiked”), perhaps even passed out. In these situations, one cannot give consent and this is a crime.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment can come in many forms, like sexual jokes, sexual innuendos, constant attempts to date or have sex with someone. Words can hurt. And of course, sexual harassment can also be physical.

Multi-perpetrator Sexual Assault (gang rape)

Multi-perpetrator sexual assault occurs when a group of people touches or rapes another. There is usually (but not always) physical violence, degradation, and verbal threats used during the assault.

Stalking

Stalking is when someone is following, harassing, and constantly fixating on someone. There are different motivations of stalkers, which you should be aware of. Cyberstalking also fits into this category.

Elder Abuse

Elder abuse is one of the saddest types of sexual assault. It is when someone is abusing someone who is a senior. The abuser is usually someone that the senior loves and trusts like a relative or a caregiver.

Sexual Abuse of People With Disabilities

People with some disabilities that impair their judgment or ability to communicate can have difficulty providing consent. When someone cannot give consent, this is a sexual violation.

Prisoner Rape

Prisoner rape is also self-explanatory. A guard or other prisoner assaults an inmate. If a guard or prison official and an incarcerate have sexual relations, this is also considered to be rape due to the abuse of power dynamic.

Sexual Abuse by Medical Professionals

This is when a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional commits sexual assault on a patient. This can happen during an examination or surgery and when the patient is awake or under anesthesia.

Military Sexual Assault

Assault in the military is one of the more common types of sexual assault. This occurs when someone inappropriately touches or rapes a person serving in the armed forces. Some victims do not report their assaults due to fear of retaliation or disbelief from higher-ups.

Statutory Rape

Statutory rape is when an adult has sex or does sex acts with a minor. Regardless if the minor’s expressed consent, they cannot legally give it. The laws vary in different states or provinces and there is usually an “age of consent”. An example of statutory rape would be an adult dating a 13-year-old child. Regardless if the child wants to date the adult, this is still illegal since they are not of the age of consent.

Consent Is Paramount

What you will notice is a common thread with these types of sexual assault is the person doesn’t give consent. If someone says no, this means no and this includes all types of interaction such as kissing, hugging, or touching of any kind.

Recently, the eye is on crimes of a sexual nature with protection being offered by vigilantes, and people taking the law into their own hands. While we have all wished to do this at one time or another, it is important that you allow law enforcement to deal with the criminals to avoid any more issues.