2023 Tennessee Code
Title 39 - CRIMINAL OFFENSES (§§ 39-1-101 — 39-17-1812)
Chapter 13 - OFFENSES AGAINST PERSON (§§ 39-13-NEW — 39-13-1004)
Part 5 - SEXUAL OFFENSES (§§ 39-13-501 — 39-13-535)
Section 39-13-505 - Sexual battery

• (a) Sexual battery is unlawful sexual contact with a victim by the defendant or the defendant by a victim accompanied by any of the following circumstances:
  • (1) Force or coercion is used to accomplish the act;
  • (2) The sexual contact is accomplished without the consent of the victim and the defendant knows or has reason to know at the time of the contact that the victim did not consent;
  • (3) The defendant knows or has reason to know that the victim is mentally defective, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless; or
  • (4) The sexual contact is accomplished by fraud.

• (b) As used in this section, "coercion" means the threat of kidnapping, extortion, force or violence to be performed immediately or in the future.

• (c) For purposes of this section, a victim is incapable of consent if:
  • (1) The sexual contact with the victim occurs during the course of a consultation, examination, ongoing treatment, therapy, or other provision of professional services described in subdivision (c)(2); and
  • (2) The defendant, whether licensed by the state or not, is a member of the clergy, healthcare professional, or alcohol and drug abuse counselor who was treating the victim for a mental, emotional, or physical condition.

• (d) Sexual battery is a Class E felony.

Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 509, s 1, eff. 7/1/2021.

Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 1995, ch. 484, § 2; 1996, ch. 675, § 74; 1997 , ch. 256, § 3; 1997 , ch. 406, § 3; 2005, ch. 353, § 12.