​What is "interpersonal violence?"

Interpersonal violence is the broad term often used to reference acts of sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, stalking, or sexual harassment. Acts of interpersonal violence can be physical, psychological, emotional, or economic and can include threats, isolation, and intimidation. Definitions and interpersonal violence statistics are below.

Definitions

Sexual Assault - An offense that meets any of the following definitions, under Title IX and Chapter UWS 17 - Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures:

  • Rape: The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus, with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the complainant.
  • Fondling: The touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the complainant, including instances where the complainant is incapable of giving consent because of age or because of temporary or permanent mental incapacity.
  • Incest: Sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law as per s. 944.06, Stats.
  • Statutory Rape: Sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent as per s. 948.02, Stats. (Sexual Assault of a Child).

Under Wisconsin criminal law, there are four levels or degrees of sexual assault (940.225).

  • Fourth degree sexual assault: sexual contact with a person without consent of that person (touching, fondling). 
  • Third degree sexual assault: sexual intercourse with a person without consent of that person. (See below for definition of consent)
  • Second degree sexual assault: sexual contact or intercourse with a person without consent of that person, and with the use of threat, force, or violence, or resulting in injury or mental anguish. 
  • First degree sexual assault: sexual contact or intercourse with a person without consent of that person by use of, or threat of use of a dangerous weapon, or which causes pregnancy or great bodily harm. 

Dating Violence - Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on the reporting party’s statement with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship. (CH 17 and Clery Act)

Domestic Violence/Abuse - A felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim; by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common; by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner; by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred; or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred. (CH 17 and Clery Act) In Wisconsin, the legal statute about domestic abuse is 968.075.

Stalking - Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to (1) fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or (2) suffer substantial emotional distress. (CH 17 and Clery Act) In Wisconsin, the legal statute about stalking is 940.32.

Course of conduct means two or more acts, including, but not limited to, acts in which the stalker directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about, a person, or interferes with a person’s property. 

Substantial emotional distress means significant mental suffering or anguish that may, but does not necessarily, require medical or other professional treatment or counseling. Reasonable person means a reasonable person under similar circumstances and with similar identities to the victim.

Sexual Harassment - Conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies any of the following: (a) Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature directed towards a student, an employee, or a person participating in an education program or activity of the university that when using the legal “reasonable person” standard, is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies the person equal access to the institution's education program or activity. (b) Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature directed towards an individual that, when using the legal “reasonable person” standard, is so severe or pervasive and objectively offensive that it has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's academic or work performance or participation in a university sponsored or supported activity. (CH 17) 

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or educational experience, (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions affecting such an individual, or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment. (University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents Policy 14-2)

"Sexual harassment" under Wisconsin law is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, unwelcome physical contact of a sexual nature or unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. “Sexual harassment" includes conduct directed by a person at another person of the same or opposite gender. “Unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature" includes but is not limited to the deliberate, repeated making of unsolicited gestures or comments of a sexual nature; the deliberate, repeated display of offensive sexually graphic materials which is not necessary for business purposes; or deliberate verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, whether or not repeated, that is sufficiently severe to interfere substantially with an employee's work performance or to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. (111.32.(13))

Sexual Exploitation - Attempting, taking or threatening to take nonconsensual sexual advantage of another person. Examples include:

  1. Engaging in any of the following conduct without the knowledge and consent of all participants:
    1. Observing, recording, or photographing private body parts or sexual activity of one or more complainants.
    2. Allowing another person to observe, record, or photograph sexual activity or private body parts of one or more complainants.
    3. Otherwise distributing recordings, photographs, or other images of the same of one or more complainants.
  2. Masturbating, touching one's genitals, or exposing one's genitals in complainant's presence without the consent of complainant, or inducing another person to do the same.
  3. Dishonesty or deception regarding the use of contraceptives or condoms during the course of sexual activity.
  4. Inducing incapacitation through deception for the purpose of making another person vulnerable to non-consensual sexual activity.
  5. Coercing the complainant to engage in sexual activity for money or anything of value.
  6. Threatening distribution of any of the following, to coerce the complainant into sexual activity or providing money or anything of value:
    1. Photos, videos, or recordings depicting private body parts or sexual activity of one or more persons.
    2. Other information of a sexual nature, including sexual history or sexual orientation.

Consent - Under Wisconsin law, consent is defined as words or overt actions by a person who is competent to give informed consent indicating a freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse or sexual contact. The following persons are presumed incapable of consent: (a) A person suffering from a mental illness or defect which impairs capacity to appraise personal conduct. (b) A person who is unconscious or for any other reason is physically unable to communicate unwillingness to an act. (940.225(4))

Students should also see UWSP Chapter 17 for definitions within Non-academic Standards and Disciplinary Procedures.

Statistics

UW-Stevens Point

UW System

State of Wisconsin

National Statistics