Definitions

The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against another person or against a group or community that results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation.

Consent requires speech or conduct indicating a freely given, uncoerced by means of threats or force, agreement to engage in sexual contact. The person giving consent must be able to:

1. Understand the circumstances and implication of the sexual act;

2. Make a reasoned decision concerning the sexual act; and

3. Communicate that decision in an unambiguous manner.

Find more information on consent.

The act of using pressure through threats, force, or alcohol or drugs in an attempt to have sexual contact with someone against his or her will.

Violence committed by a person who is, or has been, in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim where the existence of such relationship shall be based on the statement of the reporting party and on:

1. the length of the relationship,

2. the type of the relationship and

3. the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.

This includes sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse. 

Find more information on dating and relationship violence.

A felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed by:

1. A current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim.

2. A person with whom the victim shares a child in common.

3. A person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner.

4. A person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the 5 domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.

5. Any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.

Any attempted or actual act of nonconsensual sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anal intercourse, or any intrusion, however slight, of any part of a person’s body or of any other object into the oral, genital or anal openings of another person’s body. This includes forcible or non-forcible sex offenses under the uniform crime reporting system of the Federal Bureau of Investigation:

1. Rape – The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim;

2. Fondling – The touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification without the consent of the victim including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacitation;

3. Incest – Sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law;

4. Statutory Rape – Sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent. (In South Carolina the legal age of statutory consent is 16. However, individuals as young as 14 years old are able to consent to have sex with a partner who is 18 years old or younger.) 

Find more information on sexual violence.

A course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to:

1. fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others.

2. suffer substantial emotional distress

Find more information on stalking.