Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota : : ND Information

ND Statistics

Sex Offender Registry

Child Abuse and Neglect Laws

Child abuse and neglect is defined in Chapter 50-25.1 of the North Dakota century code. “It is the purpose of this chapter to protect the health and welfare of children by encouraging the reporting of children who are known to be or suspected of being abused or neglected; the providing of adequate services for the protection and treatment of abused and neglected children and to protect them from further harm; the identifying of the cause of children’s deaths, where possible; the identifying of those circumstances that contribute to children’s deaths; and the recommending of changes in policy, practices, and laws to prevent children’s deaths.” You can view the full text of the North Dakota century code on child abuse and neglect here.

Child Sexual Abuse Laws

In North Dakota, a person can be charged with a serious crime if he or she engages in a sexual act or sexual contact with a minor. The seriousness of the crime and the penalties are even greater if the minor is under 15 years of age.

This is what North Dakota considers a sexual act or sexual contact:

Sexual Act:

Intercourse
Oral sex
Anal sex
Use of an object
Digital penetration

Sexual Contact:

Touching of sexual or other intimate parts for the purpose of arousing or satisfying sexual or aggressive desires

Brief descriptions of North Dakota sex crimes are listed in the table below. You can view the full text of the North Dakota century code on sex crimes here.

Sex Offenses Under North Dakota Law
12.1-20-03	Gross Sexual Imposition	Sexual Act: Victim forced or threatened Victim drug induced Victim unaware Victim DD Victim <15 Sexual Contact: Victim <15 Victim forced or threatened Victim unaware	F
12.1-20-04	Sexual Imposition	Rape by threat Sexual act or contact as part of gang initiation	F
12.1-20-03.1	Continuous Sexual Abuse	Combination of any 3 sexual acts or contacts during a period of 3 months, victim <15	F
12.1-20-05(2)	Corruption of a Minor	Sexual act with victim 15-17 Defendant >21	F
12.1-20-05(1)	Corruption of a Minor	Sexual act with victim 15-17	M
12.1-20-05(2)	Solicitation of a Minor	Solicits with intent to engage in a sexual act Victim <15	F
12.1-20-05(1)	Solicitation of a Minor	Solicits with intent to engage in a sexual act Victim 15-17	M
12.1-20-05.1	Luring Minors by Computer	Electronic communication to solicit: minor <15 minor 15-17 & adult is >21	F
12.1-20-05.1	Luring Minors by Computer	Computer communication to solicit a minor 15-17 & adult is <22	M
12.1-20-06	Sexual Abuse of Wards	Sexual act with a person in custody or detained in institution	F
12.1-20-07	Sexual Assault	Sexual contact: Victim 15-17, adult is >21	F
12.1-20-07	Sexual Assault (a misdemeanor)	Sexual contact: Victim DD Victim drug induced Victim 15-17 Victim in custody or detained in institution	M
12.1-20-11	Incest	Intermarrying, cohabiting, or engaging in a sexual act with a relative	F
12.1-20-12.1	Indecent Exposure	Exposing/masturbating enhanced for prior conviction or after registering	F
12.1-20-12.1	Indecent Exposure	Exposing/masturbating in public or in the presence of a minor	M
12.1-20-12.2	Surreptitious Intrusion	Peeping enhanced for prior conviction or after registering	F
12.1-20-12.2	Surreptitious Intrusion	Peeping	M
12.1-27.2	Sexual Performance by Children	Promoting, directing, or using a minor in a sexual performance	F
12.1-27.2-04.1	Possession of certain materials prohibited	Possession of child pornography	F
When criminality depends on the victim being a minor age 15-17, the actor is guilty of an offense only if the actor is at least 3 years older than the minor.