What are the laws about bestiality or zoophilia in America? What are
the legal definitions and the fines imposed on people charged with and
convicted of bestiality or zoophilia acts that are illegal?

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 11 Feb 2005 14:55 PST

Such laws vary from state to state. Is there any state in which you
are particularly interested?

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Clarification of Question by highvoltageblond-ga on 11 Feb 2005 17:37 PST

I would be interested in knowing how the laws vary from state to state.  

Meaning, if it is legal in some, but illegal in others, I'd like to
know which it's legal in, and which it's illegal in....

Hey, I'd even like to know what the penalty is if you're caught
engaging in an "illegal" state.



THANKS!

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Clarification of Question by highvoltageblond-ga on 11 Feb 2005 18:41 PST

OK... Point well taken.  How about we focus on these 10 cities:

New York City
Los Angeles
Chicago
Boston
DC
Philly
Dallas
Huston
Miami
Detriot

highvoltageblond --

Surprisingly enough, there is indeed a "Bestiality Central" online
(not X-rated either) that has the information you are seeking -- a
rundown of the (30) states in which bestiality is specifically
outlawed, along with a summary of the penalties that can be imposed
for violating these laws in each state.

Here is a link to the information:

Totse: Bestiality Laws from Around the World
http://www.totse.com/en/law/justice_for_all/beastlaw.html


Although this compilation appears to be several years old, I believe
that it is likely to be accurate because there are more recent sources
that state that the total number of states that have such laws is 30,
which is the same number listed at the site linked above.

Here are links to two of those confirming sources:

"Justice Kennedy's logic is applied to other behaviors, then anything
consensual that takes place in private can no longer be considered
illegal. Therefore, when a zoophile ? the politically correct label
given to those who engage in bestiality ? decides to challenge one of
the 30 existing state laws that declare his or her private activity a
crime, the Supreme Court will have to rule those statutes
unconstitutional."

Lifwway: An Unnecessary Boost to the Gay Rights Movement 
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D153807%2526M%253D150019,00.html



"NOTE:  Bestial porn is illegal under current federal obscenity codes.
 Bestiality is specifically  illegal in 30 states.  Animal
abuse/cruelty laws have been and can be used in all states.  In other
words, there are NO states where bestiality is legal."

Focus Adolescent Services: Teen Sexual Behaviors: Issues and Concerns 
http://www.focusas.com/SexualBehavior.html 


Search Strategy:

The following Google searches led to the information and gave me
reasonable confidence that there is no contrary online information:

bestiality state laws
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-01,GGLD:en&q=bestiality+state+laws

bestiality state laws 30
://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2004-01%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=bestiality+state+laws+30


I am confident that this is the information you are looking for.  If
anything is unclear, please ask for clarification before rating the
answer.


markj-ga

I had already found totse.com myself, but wasn't that interested
because it's from 1997. If you know of any recent cases of actual
cases charged, or states where this is legal -- not just protected
under cruelty of animals clause -- that would be very helpful! If you
need to narrow geographical area, NY and CA are my choices. Thanks!

Unless there is some sort of "Bestiality Central" website which gives
details on the laws of all 50 states, this is essentially going to be
fifty separate research projects. You may want to consider raising
your price considerably.

(Maybe there is a "Bestiality Central" site, of course. If so, I would
rather not know about it.)

Great work, markj!

I confess that I didn't have the nerve to even try a Google search on
this subject, since I was worried that I might be disconcerted by some
of what tends to show up in searches on subjects of this type.

I already found the Bestiality site totse.com, but because it is from
1997, I thought that perhaps I could get some help on finding
something more current. I'm interested in specific allowances of
bestiality or cases that were prosecuted and what the fines are -- the
specifics that I could not find on my own google searches, that maybe
you can, that would be great.

If you have to narrow it down, I'd choose NY and CA. 

Thanks!!

highvoltageblond --

Thanks for the rating, and here is additional information that you requested:

As I noted in my answer, the fact that very current sources say that
30 states specifcally outlaw the practice gives me reasonable
confidence that the 1997 information is still accurate in that regard.

As for the specifics on New York and California law, here are links to
the relevant statutory provisions of each state, which are consistent
with the 1997 information:

New York

Crime:
ASPCA: New York Penal Law: Section 130.20
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nys_l_3_h_120_130_20

Penalty (Class A Misdemeanor):
"Class A misdemeanor. A sentence of imprisonment for a class A
misdemeanor shall be a definite sentence. When such a sentence is
imposed the term shall be fixed by the court, and shall not exceed one
year .  .  .  ."

Marijuana Reform: New York State Penal Code, Section 70.15
http://www.marijuanareform.org/staticpages/index.php?page=20030924142300557



California


Crime:
FindLaw: California Penal Code, Section 286.5
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cacodes/pen/281-294.html

Penalty (Misdemeanor):
"The maximum penalty allowed in California for a misdemeanor is one
year in county jail and/or a fine."

Guide to California Courts
http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/reference/guide-traffic.htm



markj-ga

Try BeastForum.com. that site helped a lot with the issue.