Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121 (2026)

Rape.

✓ current as of May 2026

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SUBCHAPTER B

DEFINITION OF OFFENSES

Sec.

3121. Rape.

3122. Statutory rape (Repealed).

3122.1. Statutory sexual assault.

3123. Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

3124. Voluntary deviate sexual intercourse (Repealed).

3124.1. Sexual assault.

3124.2. Institutional sexual assault.

3124.3. Sexual assault by sports official, volunteer or employee of nonprofit association.

3125. Aggravated indecent assault.

3126. Indecent assault.

3127. Indecent exposure.

3128. Spousal sexual assault (Repealed).

3129. Sexual intercourse with animal.

3130. Conduct relating to sex offenders.

3131. Unlawful dissemination of intimate image.

3132. Female mutilation.

3133. Sexual extortion.

§ 3121. Rape.

(a) Offense defined.--A person commits a felony of the first degree when the person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant:

(1) By forcible compulsion.

(2) By threat of forcible compulsion that would prevent resistance by a person of reasonable resolution.

(3) Who is unconscious or where the person knows that the complainant is unaware that the sexual intercourse is occurring.

(4) Where the person has substantially impaired the complainant's power to appraise or control his or her conduct by administering or employing, without the knowledge of the complainant, drugs, intoxicants or other means for the purpose of preventing resistance.

(5) Who suffers from a mental disability which renders the complainant incapable of consent.

(6) (Deleted by amendment).

(b) Additional penalties.--In addition to the penalty provided for by subsection (a), a person may be sentenced to an additional term not to exceed ten years' confinement and an additional amount not to exceed $100,000 where the person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant and has substantially impaired the complainant's power to appraise or control his or her conduct by administering or employing, without the knowledge of the complainant, any substance for the purpose of preventing resistance through the inducement of euphoria, memory loss and any other effect of this substance.

(c) Rape of a child.--A person commits the offense of rape of a child, a felony of the first degree, when the person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant who is less than 13 years of age.

(d) Rape of a child with serious bodily injury.--A person commits the offense of rape of a child resulting in serious bodily injury, a felony of the first degree, when the person violates this section and the complainant is under 13 years of age and suffers serious bodily injury in the course of the offense.

(e) Sentences.--Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1103 (relating to sentence of imprisonment for felony), a person convicted of an offense under:

(1) Subsection (c) shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which shall be fixed by the court at not more than 40 years.

(2) Subsection (d) shall be sentenced up to a maximum term of life imprisonment.

(Dec. 21, 1984, P.L.1210, No.230, eff. 60 days; Mar. 31, 1995, 1st Sp.Sess., P.L.985, No.10, eff. 60 days; Dec. 19, 1997, P.L.621, No.65, eff. 60 days; Dec. 9, 2002, P.L.1350, No.162, eff. 60 days; Dec. 16, 2002, P.L.1953, No.226, eff. 60 days)

2002 Amendments. Act 226 overlooked the amendment by Act 162, but the amendments do not conflict in substance (except for the designation of the offenses in subsecs. (c) and (d) as felonies of the first degree, as to which Act 162 has been given effect) and both have been given effect in setting forth the text of section 3121.

Effective Date. After February 6, 2003, and before February 14, 2003, section 3121 will reflect only the amendment by Act 162, as follows:

§ 3121. Rape.

(a) Offense defined.--A person commits a felony of the first degree when the person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant:

(1) By forcible compulsion.

(2) By threat of forcible compulsion that would prevent resistance by a person of reasonable resolution.

(3) Who is unconscious or where the person knows that the complainant is unaware that the sexual intercourse is occurring.

(5) Who suffers from a mental disability which renders the complainant incapable of consent.

(b) Additional penalties.--In addition to the penalty provided for by subsection (a), a person may be sentenced to an additional term not to exceed ten years' confinement and an additional amount not to exceed $100,000 where the person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant and has substantially impaired the complainant's power to appraise or control his or her conduct by administering or employing, without the knowledge of the complainant, any substance for the purpose of preventing resistance through the inducement of euphoria, memory loss and any other effect of this substance.

(c) Rape of a child.--A person commits a felony of the first degree when the person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant who is less than 13 years of age.

(d) Rape of a child with serious bodily injury.--A person commits a felony of the first degree when the person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant who is less than 13 years of age and the complainant suffers serious bodily injury in the course of the offense.

(e) Sentences.--Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1103 (relating to sentence of imprisonment for felony), a person convicted of an offense under:

(1) Subsection (c) shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which shall be fixed by the court at not more than 40 years.

(2) Subsection (d) shall be sentenced up to a maximum term of life imprisonment.

Cross References. Section 3121 is referred to in sections 1111, 2709.1, 2714, 3122.1, 3124.1, 3124.2, 3124.3, 3125, 3141, 5702, 5708, 6105, 9122, 9123, 9158 of this title; sections 4321, 5329, 6303, 6304, 6344, 6702, 6711 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations); sections 5551, 5552, 6302, 6358, 6402, 6403, 9717, 9718, 9720.2, 9799.12, 9799.14, 9799.17, 9799.24, 9799.55, 9799.58 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure); sections 6139, 7122 of Title 61 (Prisons and Parole).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 934 cases (257 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Rhodes, 510 A.2d 1217 (Pa. 1986).

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Commonwealth v. Rhodes, 510 A.2d 1217 (Pa. 1986). · cites it 12× “§ 3122 defining statutory rape and not because it was a forcible rape as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121. 332 Pa.Super. at 278 , 481 A.”

Commonwealth v. Mlinarich, 498 A.2d 395 (Pa. 1985). · cites it 22× “urse with another person "by forcible compulsion" or "by threat of forcible compulsion that would prevent resistance by a person of reasonable resolution"? Did the legislature intend to include within the crime of rape acts of sexual intercourse induced by threats to do…”

In the Interest of J.B., 107 A.3d 1 (Pa. 2014). · cites it 7× “In regard to juveniles, SORNA’s requirements are applicable only to “juvenile offenders,” a term which is statutorily limited to those who are fourteen or older when they commit “an offense which, if committed by an adult, would be classified as an offense under 18 Pa.C.S. §…”

C.C.H. v. Philadelphia Phillies, Inc., 940 A.2d 336 (Pa. 2008). · cites it 10× “, for rape of a child under the age of 13, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(c), which, as noted, makes it a crime to engage in intercourse with a minor under 13 irrespective of the minor's consent.”

Commonwealth v. Widmer, 667 A.2d 215 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1995). · cites it 13× “McCusker was "unconscious" as that term is used in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(3). III. Whether the verdicts herein were against the weight of the evidence since the evidence clearly showed that the sexual relations engaged in by the parties were consensual in nature.”

Commonwealth v. Erney, 698 A.2d 56 (Pa. 1997). · cites it 18× “Under 18 Pa. C.S. § 3121, a person commits a first degree felony when he or she engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant: (1) By forcible compulsion.”

Commonwealth v. Diaz, 152 A.3d 1040 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). · cites it 4× “To conclude otherwise would mean that 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(3) does not proscribe intercourse with a person physically and mentally incapable of consent merely because that person, at certain times during the assault but not at others, was able to perceive to some degree what was…”

Commonwealth v. Walls, 926 A.2d 957 (Pa. 2007). · cites it 2× “Walls pled guilty to one count of rape of a victim less than thirteen years old, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(6); one count of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse (IDSI) with a victim less than thirteen years old, 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Brown, 159 A.3d 531 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). · cites it 4× “*534 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(a) (1984). Rape now is defined as: A person commits a felony of the first degree when the person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant: (1) By forcible compulsion.”

A.S. v. Pennsylvania State Police, 143 A.3d 896 (Pa. 2016). · cites it 2× “(2) Individuals convicted: (i) in this Commonwealth of the following offenses: 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121 (relating to rape). 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Berkowitz, 641 A.2d 1161 (Pa. 1994). · cites it 7× “Accordingly, the ruling in Mlinarich implicitly dictates that where there is a lack of consent, but no showing of either physical force, a threat of physical force, or psychological coercion, the “forcible compulsion” requirement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121 is not met. 4 Moreover,…”

Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Resto, A., 179 A.3d 18 (Pa. 2018). · cites it 3× “At sentencing, the common pleas court implemented the mandatory minimum sentence for that offense per Section 9718(a)(3) of the Sentencing Code, which, in relevant part, prescribes as follows: A person convicted of the following offenses shall be sentenced to a mandatory term of…”

Show all 934 citing cases →

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(1) — 32 cases

Commonwealth v. Fears, 836 A.2d 52 (Pa. 2003).

Commonwealth v. Riley, 643 A.2d 1090 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1994).

Commonwealth v. Widmer, 744 A.2d 745 (Pa. 2000).

Commonwealth v. Mlinarich, 498 A.2d 395 (Pa. 1985). “urse with another person "by forcible compulsion" or "by threat of forcible compulsion that would prevent resistance by a person of reasonable resolution"? Did the legislature intend to include within the crime of rape acts of sexual intercourse induced by threats to do…”

Commonwealth v. Niemetz, 422 A.2d 1369 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1980).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(1)(2) — 1 case

Commonwealth v. Blakeslee, 3 Pa. D. & C.4th 375 (1989).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(1)(2)(6) — 1 case

Commonwealth v. Palmer, 700 A.2d 988 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1997).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(1)(a) — 1 case

Com. v. Poindexter, R. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(2) — 9 cases

Commonwealth v. Rough, 418 A.2d 605 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1980).

Commonwealth v. Mayo, 414 A.2d 696 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1979).

Commonwealth v. Mlinarich, 542 A.2d 1335 (Pa. 1988).

Commonwealth v. Cepull, 568 A.2d 247 (Pa. 1990).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(3) — 11 cases

Commonwealth v. Widmer, 667 A.2d 215 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1995). “McCusker was "unconscious" as that term is used in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(3). III. Whether the verdicts herein were against the weight of the evidence since the evidence clearly showed that the sexual relations engaged in by the parties were consensual in nature.”

Commonwealth v. Erney, 698 A.2d 56 (Pa. 1997). “Under 18 Pa. C.S. § 3121, a person commits a first degree felony when he or she engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant: (1) By forcible compulsion.”

Commonwealth v. Widmer, 744 A.2d 745 (Pa. 2000).

Commonwealth v. Diaz, 152 A.3d 1040 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). “To conclude otherwise would mean that 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(3) does not proscribe intercourse with a person physically and mentally incapable of consent merely because that person, at certain times during the assault but not at others, was able to perceive to some degree what was…”

Commonwealth v. Brown, 727 A.2d 541 (Pa. 1999).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(4) — 5 cases

Commonwealth v. Hartman, 638 A.2d 968 (Pa. 1994).

Commonwealth v. Hanawalt, 615 A.2d 432 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1992).

Commonwealth v. Watts, 465 A.2d 1288 (Pa. 1984).

Commonwealth v. Rhodes, 481 A.2d 610 (Pa. 1984).

Commonwealth v. Titus, 556 A.2d 425 (Pa. 1989).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(6) — 4 cases

Commonwealth v. Walls, 926 A.2d 957 (Pa. 2007). “Walls pled guilty to one count of rape of a victim less than thirteen years old, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(6); one count of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse (IDSI) with a victim less than thirteen years old, 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Williams, 69 A.3d 735 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2013).

Commonwealth v. Albert, 758 A.2d 1149 (Pa. 2000).

Com. v. Hardee, A. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(A) — 1 case

In the Int. of: D.B., Appeal of: D.B. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(A)(1) — 3 cases

Com. v. Bonafide, N. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2021).

Com. v. Colon, L. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2023).

Com. v. Alvarez, R. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(C) — 2 cases

Com. v. Markelwitz, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

Com. v. Colon, L. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2023).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(a) — 22 cases

Commonwealth v. Bomar, 826 A.2d 831 (Pa. 2003).

Commonwealth v. Tedford, 960 A.2d 1 (Pa. 2008).

Commonwealth v. Brown, 159 A.3d 531 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “*534 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(a) (1984). Rape now is defined as: A person commits a felony of the first degree when the person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant: (1) By forcible compulsion.”

Commonwealth v. Buffington, 828 A.2d 1024 (Pa. 2003).

Commonwealth v. Wall, 953 A.2d 581 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2008).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(a)(1) — 238 cases

Commonwealth v. Rosser, 135 A.3d 1077 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Maconeghy Jr., K., 171 A.3d 707 (Pa. 2017).

Commonwealth v. Ivy, 146 A.3d 241 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

Commonwealth v. Gonzalez, 109 A.3d 711 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

Commonwealth v. Eckrote, 12 A.3d 383 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2010).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(a)(2) — 29 cases

Commonwealth v. Kelley, 801 A.2d 551 (Pa. 2002).

Com. v. Thompson, D. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

In the Interest of: K.A.S., a Minor (Pa. Super. Ct. 2024).

Com. v. Catrone, V. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

Com. v. Young, V. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(a)(3) — 37 cases

Commonwealth v. Buffington, 828 A.2d 1024 (Pa. 2003).

Commonwealth v. Stahl, 175 A.3d 301 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).

Com. v. Vo, K., 235 A.3d 365 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020).

Braman v. Corbett, 19 A.3d 1151 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2011).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(a)(4) — 2 cases

Commonwealth v. Pugh, 101 A.3d 820 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2014).

Com. v. Nieves, A. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(a)(5) — 8 cases

Com. v. Colton, P. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).

Commonwealth v. Parmelee, 74 Pa. D. & C.4th 62 (2005).

Com. v. Porka, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).

Com. v. Colton, P. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

Com. v. Magondu, F. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(a)(6) — 18 cases

Commonwealth v. Gatling, 807 A.2d 890 (Pa. 2002).

Commonwealth v. Dennis, 784 A.2d 179 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2001).

Commonwealth v. MacGregor, 912 A.2d 315 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2006).

United States v. Andrew F. Galo, 239 F.3d 572 (3rd Cir. 2001).

Armolt, J. v. Kerestes, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(a)(6)(2002) — 1 case

Com. v. Franklin, V. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(a)(7) — 1 case

Commonwealth v. Wiggins, 4 Pa. D. & C.5th 539 (2006).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(a)(I) — 1 case

Com. v. Yeager, F. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2014).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(a)(J) — 2 cases

Com. v. Camacho, M. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

Com. v. Berlin, G. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(a)(l) — 5 cases

Com. v. Mitchell, F. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).

Com. v. Bledsoe, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020).

Com. v. Berlin, G. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

Commonwealth v. Curtin, 78 Pa. D. & C.4th 495 (2006).

Commonwealth v. Stauffer, 42 Pa. D. & C.5th 160 (2014).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(c) — 269 cases

C.C.H. v. Philadelphia Phillies, Inc., 940 A.2d 336 (Pa. 2008). “, for rape of a child under the age of 13, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121(c), which, as noted, makes it a crime to engage in intercourse with a minor under 13 irrespective of the minor's consent.”

Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Resto, A., 179 A.3d 18 (Pa. 2018). “At sentencing, the common pleas court implemented the mandatory minimum sentence for that offense per Section 9718(a)(3) of the Sentencing Code, which, in relevant part, prescribes as follows: A person convicted of the following offenses shall be sentenced to a mandatory term of…”

Com. v. Lawrence, D., 313 A.3d 265 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2024).

Com. v. Bankes, A., 286 A.3d 1302 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022).

Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Wolfe, M., 140 A.3d 651 (Pa. 2016).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(d) — 7 cases

Commonwealth v. Kerrigan, 920 A.2d 190 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2007).

Commonwealth v. Kimmel, 125 A.3d 1272 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

In the Interest of: L.B., a Minor, 177 A.3d 308 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).

Com. v. Alvarez-Mendoza, A. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

Commonwealth v. Kerrigan, 76 Pa. D. & C.4th 457 (2005).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(e) — 4 cases

Com. v. Martinez Morales, M. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025).

Com. v. Droddy, D. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025).

Com. v. Santiago, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2026).

Com. v. Esquilin, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(e)(1) — 8 cases

Com. v. Mislaie, I. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2026).

Com. v. Hawchar, R. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).

Com. v. Fulger, D. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).

Com. v. Lewis, S. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).

Com. v. Baker, K. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2021).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(e)(2) — 1 case

Hudson v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 204 A.3d 392 (Pa. 2019).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(l) — 1 case

Commonwealth v. Harvey, 27 Pa. D. & C.4th 171 (1994).

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