New York legal term
Physically helpless in New York Criminal Law
Current through 2026 New York legislative session
In New York criminal law, “Physically helpless” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the New York criminal code.
What does “Physically helpless” mean in New York criminal law?
"Physically helpless" means that a person is unconscious or for any other reason is physically unable to communicate unwillingness to an act. 8. (N.Y. Penal Law § 130.00)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.