California · Penal Code
PEN §263: The essential guilt of rape consists in the outrage to the person and feelings of the victim of the rape.
What this law says, in plain English
Rape is defined as a crime fundamentally involving harm to the victim's person and dignity through non-consensual sexual assault.
Read the full statutory text
The essential guilt of rape consists in the outrage to the person and feelings of the victim of the rape. Any sexual penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the crime.
Verify at the official source: California legislative text
Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.
MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.
This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.