Sexual assault is generally forced sexual intercourse, sodomy, or other sexual penetration of another person—against the person’s will and without the person’s consent. And although precise definitions and punishments vary from state to state, the criminal offense of aggravated sexual assault generally includes aggravating circumstances that increase the severity of the sexual assault—such as when the assailant or perpetrator uses, displays, or threatens the victim with a deadly weapon (a gun or knife); when the assailant uses a rape drug to incapacitate the victim; or when the victim is a child under a certain age, as defined by the statute.

In Connecticut, sexual assault is defined under various degrees with specific statutes outlining the elements and punishments for each offense. The most severe form, aggravated sexual assault, is addressed under Connecticut General Statutes Section 53a-70a, which includes circumstances that elevate the severity of the crime. This includes situations where the perpetrator uses a deadly weapon, administers a substance to prevent resistance by the victim, or when the victim is under the age of 13 and the assailant is more than two years older than the victim. The law in Connecticut recognizes the lack of consent and the use of force or the threat of force as critical elements of the crime. Penalties for sexual assault, particularly aggravated sexual assault, are severe and can include lengthy prison sentences, with mandatory minimum sentences often in place for the most serious offenses.