Sex Offense Definitions (N.J.S.A. 2C:14-1)

Definitions in Sex Offense Cases: The following definitions apply to this chapter:

• “Actor” Defined: "Actor" means a person accused of an offense proscribed under this act.

• “Victim” Defined: "Victim" means a person alleging to have been subjected to offenses proscribed by this act.

• “Sexual Penetration” Defined: "Sexual penetration" means vaginal intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio or anal intercourse between persons or insertion of the hand, finger or object into the anus or vagina either by the actor or upon the actor's instruction.  The depth of insertion shall not be relevant as to the question of commission of the crime.

• “Sexual Contact” Defined: "Sexual contact" means an intentional touching by the victim or actor, either directly or through clothing, of the victim's or actor's intimate parts for the purpose of degrading or humiliating the victim or sexually arousing or sexually gratifying the actor. Sexual contact of the actor with himself must be in view of the victim whom the actor knows to be present.

• “Intimate Parts” Defined: “Intimate parts" means the following body parts: sexual organs, genital area, anal area, inner thigh, groin, buttock or breast of a person;

• “Severe Personal Injury” Defined: "Severe personal injury" means severe bodily injury, disfigurement, disease, incapacitating mental anguish or chronic pain;

• “Physically Helpless” Defined: "Physically helpless" means that condition in which a person is unconscious or is physically unable to flee or is physically unable to communicate unwillingness to act.

• “Mentally Incapacitated” Defined: "Mentally incapacitated" means that condition in which a person is rendered temporarily incapable of understanding or controlling his conduct due to the influence of a narcotic, anesthetic, intoxicant, or other substance administered to that person without his prior knowledge or consent, or due to any other act committed upon that person which rendered that person incapable of appraising or controlling his conduct.

• “Coercion” Defined: "Coercion" as used in this chapter shall refer to those acts which are defined as criminal coercion in section 2C:13-5(1), (2), (3), (4), (6) and (7).