{"data":{"id":"us-ut/utah-code-76-5-802","jurisdiction":"us-ut","citation":"Utah Code § 76-5-802","heading":"Abuse or desecration of a dead human body.","body":"(1)\n(a) As used in this section, \"sexual penetration\" means the penetration, however slight, of the genital or anal opening by any object, substance, instrument, or device, including a part of the human body, or penetration involving the genitals of the actor and the mouth of a dead human body.\n(b) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-5-801 apply to this section.\n(2) An actor commits abuse or desecration of a dead human body if the actor intentionally and unlawfully:\n(a) disturbs, moves, removes, conceals, or destroys a dead human body or any part of the dead human body;\n(b) disinters a buried or otherwise interred dead human body, without authority of a court order;\n(c) dismembers a dead human body to any extent, or damages or detaches any part or portion of a dead human body; or\n(d) commits or attempts to commit upon any dead human body any act of sexual penetration, regardless of the sex of the actor and of the dead human body.\n(3) A violation of Subsection (2) is a third degree felony.\n(4) An actor does not violate this section if when the actor directs or carries out procedures regarding a dead human body, the actor complies with:\n(a) Title 9, Chapter 8a, Part 3, Antiquities;\n(b) Title 26B, Chapter 8, Part 2, Utah Medical Examiner;\n(c) Title 26B, Chapter 8, Part 3, Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act;\n(d) Section 53H-4-203;\n(e) Title 58, Chapter 9, Funeral Services Licensing Act; or\n(f) Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act, which concerns licensing to practice medicine.\n(5) For purposes of this section, a dead human body includes any part of a human body in any stage of decomposition, including ancient human remains.","path":["Title 76 Criminal Offenses","Chapter 76-5 Offenses Against the Individual","Part 76-5-8 Offenses Committed Against the Deceased"],"source_url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter5/76-5-S802.html","current_through":"2026 General Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T11:34:34Z","sha256":"21f60985f8cf6bd5016c76a52d60241002d50ba2b3dffb48cb1afb1e558d279a","source_id":"us-ut","stale":false,"prev":"us-ut/utah-code-76-5-801","next":"us-ut/utah-code-76-5-803"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}