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 39-13-522 - Rape of a child

Universal Citation:
TN Code § 39-13-522 (2023)
Learn more This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.

  • (a) Rape of a child is the unlawful sexual penetration of a victim by the defendant or the defendant by a victim, if the victim is more than eight (8) years of age but less than thirteen (13) years of age.
  • (b) Rape of a child is a Class A felony and shall be punished as follows:
    • (1) If the defendant was a juvenile at the time of the offense, then the defendant shall be punished as a Range II offender; however the sentence imposed may, if appropriate, be within Range III, but in no case shall it be lower than Range II; and
    • (2) If the defendant was an adult at the time of the offense, then the sentence must be:
      • (A) Death;
      • (B) Imprisonment for life without possibility of parole; or
      • (C) Imprisonment for life.

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 951,s 1, eff. 7/1/2024.

Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 588, s 2, eff. 7/1/2020.

Acts 1992, ch. 878, § 1; 1997 , ch. 406, § 2; 2005, ch. 353, § 14; 2006, ch. 890, § 22; 2007 , ch. 501, § 1; 2011 , ch. 306, § 1.


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