According to Virginia Code § 18.2-67.4, sexual battery is defined as non-consensual abuse or contact with the purposeful touching of personal areas; this is different from more serious crimes like rape. It is categorized as a Class 1 misdemeanor, which means that it may result in fines of up to $2,500, up to 12 months in jail, or both. Consequences for repeat offenders can get worse; after the third conviction, the offender must register as a sex offender under the Age of Consent Justice Law. When aggravating circumstances are present, such as recurrent incidences, the exploitation of weak people, or the abuse of authority, the offense becomes more serious. Under some circumstances, it might be upgraded to aggravated sexual battery, a crime with more severe punishments.