Legal Definitions - sexual battery

Sexual battery refers to any non-consensual physical contact of a sexual nature. It is a specific type of "battery," which generally means the unlawful and intentional touching of another person without their permission. The "sexual" component indicates that the contact involves intimate parts of the body or is otherwise sexual in nature, and it is always performed without the victim's consent. Depending on the jurisdiction, this term can encompass a wide range of acts, from unwanted touching to sexual penetration.

• Example 1: During a crowded public event, an individual intentionally reaches out and grabs another person's buttocks over their clothing without any permission or invitation.

  Explanation: This act constitutes sexual battery because it involves unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature, performed entirely without the victim's consent. The intentional touching of an intimate body part without permission meets the criteria for this offense.

• Example 2: A massage therapist, during a professional session, touches a client's intimate areas in a manner that is not part of the agreed-upon service and for which the client has not given consent.

  Explanation: This is an instance of sexual battery because the physical contact is sexual in nature, performed by someone in a position of trust, and critically, it occurs without the client's informed consent for that specific type of contact, violating the boundaries of the professional relationship.

• Example 3: An individual forces another person to engage in a sexual act against their will, such as oral sex or digital penetration, through coercion or physical force.

  Explanation: This clearly falls under sexual battery as it involves compelling someone to engage in a sexual act through force or intimidation, entirely without their consent. This demonstrates non-consensual sexual physical contact, which is the core element of the offense.