Our Mission

The Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc. (KASAP) is the statewide coalition of the 13 rape crisis centers in the Commonwealth. The mission of KASAP is to speak with a unified voice against sexual victimization.

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Criminal Law

Kentucky Sex Crimes Definitions

  • "Rape" is perpetrated when a person engages in sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion or with another person who is incapable of consent or with a person for whom he or she provides a foster home. For information see KRS 510.040-060.
  • "Sodomy" is perpetrated when a person engages in deviate (oral or anal) sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion or with another person who is incapable of consent or with a person for whom he or she provides a foster home. For information see KRS 510.070-090.
  • "Sexual Abuse" is perpetrated when a person subjects another person to sexual contact by forcible compulsion or with another person who is incapable of consent or with a person for whom he or she provides a foster home. For information see KRS 510.110-130. (Most commonly used when children are victimized, but also applies to crimes against adults.)
  • "Sexual Misconduct" is perpetrated when a person engages in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with another person without the latter’s consent. For information see KRS 510.140. (Commonly used where neither party is capable of consent, such as when both are under age 16).
  • "Incest" is perpetrated when a person engages in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with an ancestor, descendant, brother, or sister. The relationship may be by adoption or "step" relation. For information see KRS 530.020.
  • "Unlawful Use of Electronic Means to Induce a Minor to Engage in Sexual or Other Prohibited Activities” is perpetrated when a person knowingly uses a computer, a cellular phone, or any other electronic means for the purpose of procuring or promoting the use of a minor in sex acts. For information see KRS 510.155.
  • "Human Trafficking" means criminal activity where a person or persons are subjected to forced labor or services or commercial sexual activity through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. If the trafficked person is under 18, force, fraud, and coercion are irrelevant. For information see KRS 529.010.
  • "Voyeurism" is perpetrated when a person observes, views, photographs, films, or videotapes the sexual conduct, genitals or nipple of the female breast of another person without that person’s consent when the person observed is in a place where a reasonable person would believe that s/he would not be observed. For information see KRS 531.090.

Related Definitions

  • "Sexual Intercourse" means penetration of one person’s sex organ by another’s sex organ or by a foreign object. For information see KRS 510.010. Note, penetration by another person’s fingers is classified as “sexual contact.”
  • "Deviate Sexual Intercourse" means any act of sexual gratification involving the sex organ of one person and the mouth or anus of another; or penetration of the anus of one person by a foreign object. For information see KRS 510.010.
  • "Sexual Contact" means any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person done for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of either party. For information see KRS 510.010.
  • "Foreign Object" means anything used in commission of a sexual act other than a body part of the other person. For information see KRS 510.010.
  • "Forcible Compulsion" means physical force or threat of force, expressed or implied, which places a person in fear of immediate death, physical injury to self or another person, fear of the immediate kidnap of self or another person, or fear of any sexual offenses. Physical resistance on the part of the victim is not necessary. For information see KRS 510.010.
  • "Incapable of Consent" means that a person is deemed incapable of giving consent because of age (less than 16), physical helplessness, mental incapacitation, mental retardation or mental illness. Also, any person under the care or custody of a state or local agency pursuant to a court order is deemed incapable of consenting to sexual activity with a person employed by or working on behalf of the agency, unless the parties are married. For information see KRS 510.020.
  • "Physically Helpless" means that a person is unconscious or for any other reason physically unable to communicate unwillingness to an act. For information see KRS 510.010.
  • "Mentally Incapacitated" means that a person is rendered temporarily incapable of appraising or controlling his/her conduct as a result of an intoxicating substance administered to him/her without consent or as a result of any other act committed upon him/her without consent. For information see KRS 510.010.
Victims Rights

The Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, Office of Victims Advocacy offers an array of resources for victims.  Visit their website at http://ag.ky.gov/criminal/victims/

There you will find the following publications: Kentucky Crime Victim Bill of Rights Handbook and Victims Rights brochure

Crime Victims Compensation

Kentucky’s Crime Victims Compensation Board provides assistance to victims.  Visit http://cvcb.ky.gov/ for additional information and resources.

This project was supported by Grant Number VAWA ARRA-2009-KASAP-00034 awarded through the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The Opinions, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women or the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.