What is the difference between rape and sexually assaulted?

Question

Well I was watching court TV and he said she was sexually assaulted but no sign of rape.

Answer 1

I think rape concerns sexual penetration. Sexual assault concerns touching.

From goaskalice: Rape is a form of sexual assault that involves unwanted penetration of a person's mouth, vagina, and/or anus by a penis or object. Rape is also having sex with a person who is unable to give consent because s/he's impaired or unconscious (i.e., drunk or drugged), physically or mentally challenged, or under the age of 17 years (the age varies from state to state).

;-D Permission and age are aspects of the law and differ from place to place. Most rape occurs between acquaintances when one goes too far. (date rape) Most men do not report that they have been raped.

Answer 2

I'll leave the original answer below, but to answer your new details, the writer of the show was trying to say that she was not penetrated (not raped) but had been touched in a sexual manner that is usually not considered appropriate without permission (if she was an adult).

If she was a minor, any touch, sexual or not, is often considered a sexual assault if done by an adult male. Cases have been recorded of a man grabbing a girl's arm and getting arrested for sexual assault. The usual non-legal concept is touching the breasts, buttocks or in the groin area.

Legally, it depends upon the State or Country where the event happens.

If the victim was a minor then even consensual sex would probably be considered rape.

In common English, rape usually included the penetration or attempted penetration and sexual assault is any contact or attempted contact of a sexual nature (perhaps even including a kiss).

Medically, sexual assault includes rape.