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 Maine, the criminal offense of sexual assault is addressed under the state's statutes, specifically in the Maine Criminal Code. Sexual assault in Maine generally includes any act of forced sexual intercourse, sodomy, or other sexual penetration without the person's consent. Maine law classifies various degrees of sexual assault based on the severity of the act and the circumstances surrounding it, such as the age of the victim and the use of force or coercion. For example, 'Gross Sexual Assault' is one of the most serious sexual assault offenses and can be equivalent to what is traditionally known as rape in other jurisdictions. Additionally, Maine law also recognizes offenses such as 'Unlawful Sexual Contact' which may involve nonconsensual touching, groping, or similar acts for sexual gratification. These laws are designed to protect individuals from sexual acts that occur without their consent and to prosecute those who commit such acts.