The criminal offense of sexual assault generally involves forced sexual intercourse, sodomy, or other sexual penetration of another person—against the person’s will and without the person’s consent.

Sexual assault laws vary from state to state, and in some states the traditional criminal offense of rape is defined as the criminal offense of sexual assault. In some states the touching, groping, or pinching of the body of another person without the person’s consent and for purposes of sexual gratification is defined as sexual assault—and in other states such nonconsensual sexual contact is defined as the criminal offense of sexual battery or forcible touching, for example.

Sexual assault and related criminal offenses are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Arizona, the criminal offense of sexual assault is defined under Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-1406. It involves knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with any person without consent of such person, or with any person who is under the age of eighteen. Consent is defined as a voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity. Someone incapable of giving consent due to age, mental disorder, or intoxication is considered unable to consent. The law in Arizona does not use the term 'rape' but categorizes these acts under sexual assault. Additionally, Arizona law addresses other related offenses such as sexual abuse under § 13-1404, which includes intentionally or knowingly engaging in sexual contact with any person who is fifteen or more years of age without consent, or with any person who is under fifteen years of age if the sexual contact involves only the female breast. Sexual assault is a serious felony in Arizona, and the state imposes severe penalties for those convicted of such crimes.