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Research ArticleRegular Articles

Zoophilia and the Law: Legal Responses to a Rare Paraphilia

Brian Holoyda and William Newman
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online December 2014, 42 (4) 412-420;
Brian Holoyda
Dr. Holoyda is a general psychiatry resident and Dr. Newman is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Training Director of the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California-Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.
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William Newman
Dr. Holoyda is a general psychiatry resident and Dr. Newman is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Training Director of the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California-Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.
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    Figure 1.

    A map of the United States and the charge associated with the states' antibestiality laws. In those states shaded light gray, bestiality charges incur misdemeanor charges, and in those shaded dark gray they incur felony charges. States without shading have no current statutes against zoophilic acts.

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    Table 1

    A Summary of Zoophilic Classes

    Class, NameCharacteristicsAlternative Terminology
    I, Role playerEnjoys having sex with a living human pretending to be an animal.“Furry”
    II, Romantic zoophileKeeps an animal as a pet for psychosexual stimulation; does not engage in sexual activity with animals.—
    III, Zoophilic fantasizerFantasizes about intercourse with animals, but does not indulge in actual intercourse. May masturbate in the presence of an animal.Zoophilic voyeurism
    IV, Tactile zoophileStrokes erotic parts of an animal like genitals, anus, or perianal region to achieve orgasm. May rub genitals against an animal.Zoophilic frotteurism
    V, Fetishistic zoophilePreserves parts of animals like furs to use as a fetish for zoophilic activities.Zoophilic fetishism
    VI, Sadistic bestialDerives sexual pleasure from sadistic activities with an animal, such as torture.Zoophilic sadism, zoosadism
    VII, Opportunistic zoophileEngages in sexual acts with animals when consenting humans are not available.Bestialism
    VIII, Regular zoophilePrefers sexual intercourse with animals; does not enjoy sexual acts with humans.Zoophilia erotica, Zooerasty (depending on presence or absence of emotional bond)
    IX, Homicidal zoophilePrefers killing an animal and having sex with it over sexual intercourse with a living animal.Necrozoophilia
    X, Exclusive zoophileEngages exclusively in sex with animals at the exclusion of human partners.Zoophilia erotica, Zooerasty (depending on presence or absence of emotional bond)
    • Adapted from Aggrawal.8

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    Table 2

    States with Misdemeanor and Felony Charges, Sorted Based on Wording of Statute Title

    MisdemeanorFelony
    BestialityBestiality
        Arkansas18    Arizona*17
        Iowa19    Delaware*33
        Minnesota*20    Georgia34
        Utah21    Indiana15
        South Dakota*35
    Cruelty to animalsCruelty to animals
        Alaska22    Washington*36
         Maine: subsection Bestiality23
    Sexual assault of an animalCrime against nature, Sodomy, or Buggery
        California*24    Idaho*16
        Oregon25    Kansas37
        Massachusetts*38
        Michigan*14
        Mississippi*39
        Oklahoma*40
        Rhode Island*13
        South Carolina*41
        Virginia*42
    OtherOther
        Florida: Sexual activities involving animals26    Illinois: Sexual conduct or sexual contact with an animal43
        Maryland: Unnatural or perverted sexual practice27
        Missouri:* Unlawful sex with an animal28
        Nebraska: Indecency with an animal29
        New York:* Sexual misconduct30
        Pennsylvania:* Sexual intercourse with animal31
        Wisconsin: Sexual gratification32
    • ↵* Wording contains no specific description of acts that constitute an offense.

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    Table 3

    Case Subject's Risk Assessment Score Using the RRASOR in Three Different States55

    Risk factorTexasMarylandSouth Carolina
    Prior sex offenses133
    Young (age 18–25) at release000
    Any male victim000
    Any related victim000
    Total score133
    Ten-year predicted sexual recidivism risk11.2%36.9%36.9%
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    Table 4

    Case Subject's Risk Assessment Score Using the STATIC-99 in Three Different States59

    Risk factorTexasMarylandSouth Carolina
    Young (18–25)000
    Not lived with lover for at least two years111
    Index case includes nonsexual violence000
    Prior convictions of nonsexual violence000
    Prior sex offenses133
    Prior sentencing dates (excluding index)011
    Any convictions for noncontact sex offenses000
    Any unrelated victims111
    Any stranger victims111
    Any male victims000
    Total score477
    Ten-year predicted sexual recidivism risk26%52%52%
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Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online: 42 (4)
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
Vol. 42, Issue 4
1 Dec 2014
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Zoophilia and the Law: Legal Responses to a Rare Paraphilia
Brian Holoyda, William Newman
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Dec 2014, 42 (4) 412-420;

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Zoophilia and the Law: Legal Responses to a Rare Paraphilia
Brian Holoyda, William Newman
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Dec 2014, 42 (4) 412-420;
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