In general, sexual assault is defined as any forced or unwanted sexual contact obtained without a person's consent. Sexual assault is often used as a broad term to describe types of sexual crimes, including rape. Rape is forced or unwanted sexual penetration obtained without a person's consent.

The University of Minnesota's College Student Health Survey defines sexual assault as:

1) Actual or attempted sexual intercourse without your consent or against your will

2) Actual or attempted sexual touching without your consent or against you will

Acquaintance Assault / Date Rape is forced, manipulated, or coerced sexual contact by someone a victim knows. This is the most prevalent form of rape on college campuses across the country. It is estimated that over 80 percent of sexual assault survivors know the person who sexually assaulted them (US Dept. of Justice, Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey, 2000).

Stranger Rape: According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, stranger rape is unwanted sex forced on a victim by an assailant whom the victim has never met.

Neither length nor type of relationship implies consent.

Information For:

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