Sexual assault is generally forced sexual intercourse, sodomy, or other sexual penetration of another person—against the person’s will and without the person’s consent. And although precise definitions and punishments vary from state to state, the criminal offense of aggravated sexual assault generally includes aggravating circumstances that increase the severity of the sexual assault—such as when the assailant or perpetrator uses, displays, or threatens the victim with a deadly weapon (a gun or knife); when the assailant uses a rape drug to incapacitate the victim; or when the victim is a child under a certain age, as defined by the statute.

In Alabama, sexual assault is legally referred to as sexual misconduct or sexual abuse and is addressed under the Alabama Criminal Code. The state defines sexual assault as non-consensual sexual contact, which includes forced sexual intercourse, sodomy, or other sexual penetration without the victim's consent. Aggravated sexual assault in Alabama is characterized by circumstances that increase the gravity of the offense, such as the use of a deadly weapon, the administration of a controlled substance to incapacitate the victim, or when the victim is a child below a certain age. The age of consent in Alabama is 16 years old, and sexual contact with anyone below this age, under certain conditions, may constitute statutory rape or sexual abuse of a child. The specific statutes detailing sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault in Alabama include Alabama Code Title 13A, Chapter 6, which covers offenses involving sexual misconduct, and Chapter 6A, which addresses sex offenses. Penalties for these crimes can range from misdemeanors to felonies, with aggravated sexual assault typically resulting in more severe charges and longer sentences.