Sexual activity which takes place absent of consent is at all times unlawful according to the laws of the United States. These laws, both at the state and federal level, protect citizens from all kinds of undesired sexual activity, ranging from inappropriate touching to forced sexual intercourse. Sexual offenses are criminal, and offenders can suffer criminal prosecution and as many as 40 years imprisonment. However, the law has defined two distinct levels of sexual offenses – sexual abuse and sexual assault. In cases of sexual abuse, the person can consent, but does not consent and receives unwanted sexual contact. One particular and heinous form of sexual abuse is child sexual abuse, which is the case when the victim of abuse is under the age of 18.