Sexual harassment is forbidden in which Penal Code statute?

• A. Battery
• B. Assault
• C. False Imprisonment
• D. Official Oppression

Answer: (D)

Sexual harassment by someone in a position of authority is treated as a misuse of power, which is addressed under the statute on Official Oppression. This provision targets a public officer or person in official capacity who, in the exercise of their duties, uses oppression or abuse of authority toward another person. In detention settings, where officers have control over detainees, such abusive conduct—including sexual harassment—falls under Official Oppression, making this the applicable statute.

The other offenses describe different harms: battery involves actual physical contact causing harm; assault involves threats or attempts of violence; false imprisonment is unlawful confinement. While those are serious crimes, they don’t specifically cover abuse of authority or harassment by someone in official capacity, so they aren’t the correct statutory basis for prohibiting sexual harassment in this context.