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 Mississippi, sexual assault is defined under the state's criminal statutes, specifically under the Mississippi Code Section 97-3-65. The law considers sexual battery to be a felony and defines it as engaging in sexual penetration with another individual without their consent or when the victim is incapable of consent due to mental or physical incapacity. Aggravated sexual assault in Mississippi includes circumstances that increase the gravity of the offense, such as the use of a deadly weapon, the administration of a substance to incapacitate the victim, or when the victim is below the age of consent, which is 16 years old in Mississippi. The penalties for sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault in Mississippi are severe and can include lengthy prison sentences, fines, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. The specific charges and penalties depend on various factors, including the age of the victim, the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator, and the presence of aggravating circumstances.