Virginia legal term
Sexual contact in Virginia Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Virginia legislative session
In Virginia criminal law, “Sexual contact” 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 Virginia criminal code.
What does “Sexual contact” mean in Virginia criminal law?
"Sexual contact" means any act committed between a person and an animal for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, abuse, or financial gain involving (i) contact between the sex organs or anus of one and the mouth, sex organs, or anus of another; (ii) the insertion of any part of the animal's body into the vaginal or anal opening of the person; or (iii) the insertion of any part of the body of a person or any object into the vaginal or anal opening of an animal or touching or fondling by a person of the sex organs or anus of an animal without a bona fide veterinary or animal husb (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-361.01)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.