/ˈfɑːn.dəl/ to touch gently and in a loving way, or to touch in a sexual way: She fondled the puppies. He gently fondled the baby' Cambridge Dictionary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and RAINN:

In a legal context, the crime associated with "fondling" refers to the unlawful and non-consensual touching of another person’s intimate parts for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse.

Consent is the primary factor that distinguishes a friendly or romantic touch from a criminal act.

Recent Changes to the Definition of Sexual Assault under Title IX * The 2020 Title IX Regulations cite to the Jeanne Clery Campus ... Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo Fondling | Sex Offense Criminal Defense Attorney Although fondling is of a lower degree in the sex crime family, it is still punishable and against the law. If convicted of fondli... Attorney Search Network Fondling | Sex Offense Criminal Defense Attorney Fondling * Fondling Law. Forcible Fondling is the touching of the private parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratif... Attorney Search Network Forcible touching - Wikipedia Forcible touching, under New York State law, is a sex offense. A person found guilty of it may be sentenced to up to one year in p... Wikipedia NIBRS Sexual-Offense Revisions - Potomac Law Group Oct 9, 2025 —