The crime of rape was redefined on Friday by federal prosecutors, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced in a news release emailed to journalists.
The new definition of rape is: “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.
"The revised definition includes any gender of victim or perpetrator, and includes instances in which the victim is incapable of giving consent because of temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity, including due to the influence of drugs or alcohol or because of age," the FBI statement said. "The ability of the victim to give consent must be determined in accordance with state statute. Physical resistance from the victim is not required to demonstrate lack of consent. The new definition does not change federal or state criminal codes or impact charging and prosecution on the local level."
The previous definition dates back to 1927 and describes rape as, simply, "the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will.”
The new definition brings the federal definition more in line with state statutes, the FBI said, with the goal of providing "more comprehensive statistical reporting of rape nationwide."
"Rape is a devastating crime and we can’t solve it unless we know the full extent of it,” Vice President Joe Biden commented. "This long-awaited change to the definition of rape is a victory for women and men across the country whose suffering has gone unaccounted for over 80 years.”
"These long overdue updates to the definition of rape will help ensure justice for those whose lives have been devastated by sexual violence and reflect the Department of Justice’s commitment to standing with rape victims,” Attorney General Eric Holder said. “This new, more inclusive definition will provide us with a more accurate understanding of the scope and volume of these crimes.”
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