Wisconsin Code § 322.120

Article 120 — Rape and sexual assault generally
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
(1) In this section:
(b) 1. “Consent” means a freely given agreement to the conduct at issue by a competent person.
2. An expression of lack of consent through words or conduct means there is no consent. Submission or lack of oral or
physical resistance, resulting from the use of force, threat of
force, or placing another person in fear, does not constitute consent. A current or previous dating or social or sexual relationship
by itself or the manner of dress of the person involved with the accused in the conduct at issue shall not constitute consent. A
sleeping, unconscious, or incompetent person cannot consent. A
person cannot consent to force causing or likely to cause death or
grievous bodily harm or to being rendered unconscious. A person cannot consent while under threat or in fear.
3. Lack of consent may be inferred based on the circumstances of the offense. All the surrounding circumstances are to
be considered in determining whether a person gave consent or
whether a person did not resist or ceased to resist only because of
another person’s actions.
(c) “Force” means any of the following:
1. The use of a weapon.
2. The use of physical strength or violence that is likely to
overcome, restrain, or injure a person.
3. Inflicting physical harm that is likely to coerce or compel
submission by the victim.

(d) “Grievous bodily harm” means serious bodily injury, including fractured or dislocated bones, deep cuts, torn members of
the body, serious damage to internal organs, or other severe bodily injuries. “Grievous bodily harm” does not include minor injuries such as a black eye or a bloody nose.
(e) “Sexual act” means any of the following:
1. Contact between the penis and the vulva or anus or mouth,
and for purposes of this subparagraph contact involving the penis
occurs upon penetration, however slight.
2. The penetration, however slight, of the vulva or anus or
mouth, of another by any part of the body or by any object, with
an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, or degrade any person or to
arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person.
(f) “Sexual contact” means any of the following:
1. Touching, or causing another person to touch, either directly or through the clothing, the genitalia, anus, groin, breast,
inner thigh, or buttocks of any person, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, or degrade any person.
2. Any touching, or causing another person to touch, either
directly or through the clothing, any body part of any person, if
done with an intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any
person. Touching may be accomplished by any part of the body.
(g) “Threatening or placing that other person in fear” means a
communication or action that is of sufficient consequence to
cause a reasonable fear that noncompliance will result in the victim or another person being subjected to the wrongful action contemplated by the communication or action.
(h) “Unlawful force” means an act of force done without legal
justification or excuse.
(2) Any person subject to this chapter who commits a sexual
act upon another person without consent by doing any of the following is guilty of rape and shall be punished as a court-martial
may direct:
(a) Using unlawful force against that other person.
(b) Using force causing or likely to cause death or grievous
bodily harm to any person.
(c) Threatening or placing that other person in fear that any
person will be subjected to death, grievous bodily harm, or
kidnapping.
(d) Rendering that other person unconscious.
(e) Administering to that other person by force or threat of
force, or without the knowledge or consent of that person, a drug,
intoxicant, or other similar substance and thereby substantially
impairing the ability of that other person to appraise or control
his or her conduct.
(3) Any person subject to this chapter who does any of the
following is guilty of sexual assault and shall be punished as a
court-martial may direct:
(a) Commits a sexual act upon another person by doing any of
the following:
1. Threatening or placing that other person in fear.
3. Making a fraudulent representation that the sexual act
serves a professional purpose.
4. Inducing a belief by any artifice, pretense, or concealment
that the person is another person.
(b) Commits a sexual act upon another person under one of
the following circumstances:
1. Without the consent of the other person.
2. When the person knows or reasonably should know that
the other person is asleep, unconscious, or otherwise unaware
that the sexual act is occurring.
(c) Commits a sexual act upon another person when the other
person is incapable of consenting to the sexual act due to any of
the following:
1. Impairment by any drug, intoxicant, or other similar substance, and that condition is known or reasonably should be
known by the person.
2. A mental disease or defect or a physical disability, and that
condition is known or reasonably should be known by the person.
(4) Any person subject to this chapter who commits or causes
sexual contact upon or by another person, if to do so would violate sub. (2) had the sexual contact been a sexual act, is guilty of
aggravated sexual contact and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
(5) Any person subject to this chapter who commits or causes
sexual contact upon or by another person, if to do so would violate sub. (3) had the sexual contact been a sexual act, is guilty of
abusive sexual contact and shall be punished as a court-martial
may direct.
(6) In a prosecution under this section, in proving that a person made a threat, it need not be proven that the person actually
intended to carry out the threat or had the ability to carry out the
threat.
(7) An accused may raise any applicable defenses available
under this chapter or the rules for court-martial. Marriage is not
a defense for any conduct in issue in any prosecution under this
section.

‹ Prev All Wisconsin sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.