long time of consent in N America
The ages of consent for sexual activeness vary by jurisdiction across North America.

Overview ...
The age of consent is the age at or above which a somebody is considered to have the legal capacity to consent to sexual activity. Both pardner must be of effectual age to give consent, although exceptions may exist when both partners are within a certain identification number of years in age. mortal below the age of consent may not, by law, generate consent, and intimate telling involving such persons may be punished by crook imprimatur standardized to those for rape or intimate violation. Non-violent sexual contact with persons under the age of consent may be punished as `` statutory colza '' or a standardised effectual term.

Historically, the age of consent applied to male-female family relationship ; homosexual kinship were often illegal in themselves regardless of the geezerhood. Bodoni font Torah have explicitly recognized different human relationship, but the circumstances may affect the legal status, and there may be multiple `` ages '' that apply in any legal power. For case, different ages may enforce if the relationship is homosexual, or if the sexual contact is early than vaginal intercourse. Also, unlike ages may utilise if one partner is in a position of power or self-confidence over the other ( e.g., a teacher-student relationship ).



Commonwealth of the Bahamas, The
In the Bahamas, the age of consent for opposite-sex activity is 16 and the age of consent for same-sex activity is 18. Since 1991 homosexualism was legalized. However, `` public homosexualism '' is an offensive that carries a 20 class clink term without parole. Art. 16
Further reading material :
• Gay Times information on the Bahamas
• Interpol 's selective information Thomas Nelson Page on the Bahamas

Bermuda ( Overseas territory of the UK )
In Bermuda, the age of consent is 16 for straight and female homophile human action, while the age of consent for male homosexual acts is maintained at 18.
history
Male homosexual acts were decriminalized in Bermuda since 1994 where the in a higher place experimental condition were set.

Canada ...
The Tackling Violent offence Act took effect on 1 May 2008, making the current age of consent 16.
There exist two stopping point in age exemptions, depending on the age of the vernal partner. A spring chicken of twelve or thirteen can go for to intimate action with an individual no More than two years older than them. A fourteen- or fifteen-year-old can consent to sexual activity with a partner who is no more than five days older than them, or to whom they are married. ( Marriages are permitted for those above 16 extraneous Quebec, and above 16 for Male and 14 for females in Quebec. ) Neither exclusion applies if the accused was in a status of reliance or authority towards the dupe, the dupe was in a kinship of dependance with the accused, or if the family relationship between the accused and victim is found to be exploitative.

Although Canada is a federation, the criminal law ( including the definition of the age of consent ) is in the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal official governing, so the age of consent is uniform throughout Canada. Section 151 of the Criminal codification of Canada makes it a offence to relate, for a sexual design, any person under the age of 16 years. Section 153 then goes on to proscribe the sexual touching of a somebody under 18 by a soul in three fate : if he or she is in a `` perspective of trust or authority '' towards the youth, if the younker is in a `` relationship of dependency '' with him or her, or if the relationship is `` exploitative ''. The term `` position of reliance or authority '' is not defined in the codification but the courts have ruled that parents, teacher, and medical professional hold a position of confidence or authority towards youth they care for or learn. For determining whether or not a relationship is `` exploitative '', s. 153 ( 1.2 ) of the Code provides that a judge can consider how old the youth is, the difference in ages between the pardner, how the kinship evolved, and the degree of control or influence that the Old collaborator has over the youth.

Where an accused is charged with an offence under s. 151 ( Sexual Interference ), s. 152 ( Invitation to sexual touch ), s. 153 ( 1 ) ( sexual exploitation ), s. 160 ( 3 ) ( Bestiality in presence of or by tike ), or s. 173 ( 2 ) ( Indecent acts ), or is charged with an offensive under s. 271 ( Sexual assault ), s. 272 ( Sexual assault with a weapon system, scourge to a third political party, or causing bodily injury ), or s. 273 ( Aggravated sexual violation ) in respect of a complainant under the age of XIV years, it is not a defense that the complainant consented to the activity that forms the subject-matter of the charge.

Anal intercourse ...
Additionally, section 159 of the Criminal Code sets the age of consent for anal intercourse at 18 twelvemonth, with an exception if the two partners are married. It is interesting to take down that this section reads `` husband and wife, '' even though same-sex marriage have been legal in Canada since 2005.
However, courts in Ontario ( 1995 ) and Quebec ( 1998 ) have independently declared discussion section 159 of the felon Code of Canada ( Anal Intercourse ) unconstitutional.

History
The age of consent for heterosexual vaginal sex was previously 12 years of age ; in 1890, parliament raised it to 14. The punishment for anyone who breached the law was sprightliness imprisonment and whipping, while the punishment for anyone who only attempted to seduce an underage girl was two days'imprisonment and whipping. From borderland 2008, the Tackling Violent Crime Act became effective, which among other offense included under the Act has raised the age of consent in Canada to 16. Anal sex still remains at age 18 under section 159, and the new measures still allow for close in age exclusion only between 12 and 16 : if there is no more than a two year gap for those 12 and 13, or a five year gap for those 14 and 15.
Female homosexuality was never illegal in the former English colonies ; oral sex was legalized in 1969 with the same age of consent as vaginal sex and anal sex was also legalized in 1969, but with a higher age of consent being set at 21, under section 159 ; then in 1988 the age of consent for anal retentive sex was lowered to 18. As of 2008 there are no plans to repeal incision 159, even though it has been ruled unconstitutional in some places of Canada.
Further reading
• Criminal Code of Canada - full-of-the-moon textual matter of the crook code, from the department of Justice website
*
Mexico ...
In Mexico, the age at which there are no restrictions for consensual intimate activities is 18, while the lower limit age of consent varies between 12 and 18, according to State laws. In Mexico, criminal legislation is shared between the Fed and state governing. The Federal law establishes the age of 12 as the minimal age at which states can legislate upon ; however there may be local state jurisprudence that override the federal law. In practice session though, the decision as to whether or not to pursue is left to state authorisation regardless of the younger person 's age.

federal official Law
clause 261 of the Federal Criminal Code ( PDF ) states that :"Whoever, without the purpose of reaching copulation, performs a sexual act in a person under 12 or in a person that has no electrical capacity of understanding the signification of the act or that for any reason can not resist, or demands that the act is performed, will be punished with a term of 2 to 5 yr in prison ”. If the wrongdoer uses lesson or physical vehemence, an extra half term is added to the initial meter.

Article 266 refers to the previous article 265, which covers the rape of grownup in general and establishes a terminal figure of 8 to 14 years in prison house for sex obtained through strong-arm or moral fierceness. Article 266 then states that : `` It is equivalent to rape and will be punished with the same penalty : ( 1st article ) - who without violence performs a copulation with a person under 12 ”. The 3rd Clause of this article punishes with the Saame penalties also"the vaginal or anal introduction of target, without violence and with lascivious finish ”, in a somebody under 12 or in a somebody that has no capacity of understanding the meaning of the fact, or for any reason can not resist. If any of the said acts is performed with physical or moral violence, the sentence is raised in up to a half.

A further article, 266 Bis, determines an extra penalty of up to a half under certain circumstances - ( a ) when there are multiple offenders ; ( b ) when the offense is committed by a parent, effectual guardian, stepfather or"companion"( amasio ) of the female parent ; ( c ) when there is an abuse of bureau of somebody as a civic servant ; ( d ) when the crime is committed by a soul who has the minor under his or her custody, guard or education, or yet through the revilement of trust.

There is another crime in article 262 for consented sex with adolescents aged 12 to 18, when consent is obtained through deceit. The penalization is 3 calendar month to 4 eld in prison. This crime, however, is only prosecuted through a charge of the minor or his/her parents or legal protector, as determined in Article 263.

Further recital :
• ( PDF ) Official version - Mexican Chamber of lieutenant website. ( in Spanish )
• copy in HTML/PDF, browsable by section ( in Spanish )
• Interpol web site ( in Spanish ) )
local anaesthetic laws
The age of consent is puberty in :
Nuevo León, Querétaro
12 in :
Aguascalientes, Baja Golden State Sur, Campeche, Coahuila, Chiapas, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico City, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tabasco sauce, Tamaulipas, Yucatán, Zacatecas
14 in :
Baja California, Colima, Chihuahua, Durango, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, Tlaxcala, Veracruz
15 in :
Mexico ( State Department )

18 in :
Nayarit ( as of Nov of 2006 ), Michoacán ( as of August of 2006 )
All Mexican State have putridness of Minors statutes that can, upon complaint of the family ( or minor ), be used to punish sexual relation with persons under XVIII. It should be noted that while actual prosecution for violations of depravation of youngster statutes ( and age of consent legislative act in general ) tend to be sporadic, regional, and very post dependent, many Mexican states nonetheless classify Corruption of child as a `` Delito Grave '' ( Grave Crime ) in their penal computer code.

Additionally, all the State Department have `` Estupro '' ( statutory rape ) practice of law that can, upon ailment of the family ( or minor female ), be used to prosecute adults who engage in sexual intercourse with `` chaste '' and `` good '' female under XVIII by way of `` conquest '' or deceit ( such as the false promise of marriage ). A exchangeable situation exists in some southern U.S. government states.

Federal District
The age of consent in the Union soldier District ( Mexico city ) is 12, one of the low-spirited in the creation, and the overall criminal legislation of Mexico's chapiter is close to that of the federal law regarding this subject area, although tougher in some aspect - higher punishment and broader definitions.

According to the Estatuto del Gobierno del Distrito federal official ( PDF ) ( in Spanish people ) ( government Statute of the Federal District ), clause 42, Clause XII, the territorial dominion's Legislative Assembly has powers to legislate in criminal law.
article 175 of the federal official District Crimianl codification refers to the previous Article 174, which stipulates a term of 6 to 17 age of prison for the rapine of adults, while defining sex act as"the founding of the member in the human body through the vagina, anus or mouthpiece ”. Article 175 ( violación ) then states that : `` It is equivalent to rape and will be punished with the Lapp penalty : ( 1st Clause ) - who performs a copulation with a person under 12 years of age or with a person that has no capacity of understanding the meaning of the act or that for any cause can not resist"; The 2nd Clause defines as committing the Saami offence whoever"introduces in the vagina or anus any element, legal document or any portion of the man body dissimilar from the penis ”, in sex act to these same persons.

article 177 covers"sexual abuse"and punishes former acts referred as"unintentional"acts -"who without purpose of reaching intercourse, performs a sexual act with a person under 12 or a person that has no capacity of understanding the meaning of the act or that for any reason can not fend it, or that demands that such act is observed or performed, will be punished with 2 to 7 years in prison ”.

In both clause ( 175 and 177 ), there is an superfluous half full term in font of physical or moral violence. And according to Article 178, there is also a penalty of an extra two third of the terminal figure under the like circumstances foreseen in article 266 Bis of the Union soldier Law ( see above ), added by two new consideration - ( clause V ) when the victim is inside a buck private fomite or a public military service vehicle ; and ( clause VI ) when the offence is committed in a desert or separated place.

There is a crime called estupro stipulated in clause 180, which refers to consented sex with adolescents aged 12 to 18, when consent is obtained through any means of dissembling. The penalty is 6 calendar month to 4 years of prison house. This crime needs a ailment ( querella ) to be prosecuted.
There is a Corruption of Minors statute ( Article 184 ) that can be used to penalize by captivity, for seven to twelve old age, grownup who engage in intimate telling with persons under XVIII. This post exists all over Mexico, and can be prosecuted upon complaint of the family or the child.




United body politic ...
The United States of America is a federal republic where the age of consent laws are made at the country layer. There survive several federal statutes related to protecting nestling from sexual predators, but none of them imposes an age limit on sexual acts. On 26 June 2003, both heterosexual and homosexual anal sex became legal in all US states and soil under a US Supreme Court conclusion called St. Lawrence v. Texas ( between non-commercial, consenting adult in a private bedroom ). In Limon v. Kansas ( 2005 ), the Kansas Supreme courtyard used Lawrence as a case law to overturn the State 's `` Romeo and Juliet '' law, which proscribed lesser penalties for heterosexuals than homo convicted of similar age of consent related offenses There is ongoing advocacy for a uniform age of consent. One proposal would make the national age of consent 18. If a State Department has an age of consent below the Union boundary, 10 % of Federal soldier education monetary fund would be reduced. Thus far, Congress has not considered this or any other proposal to change the status quo. However there is a common misconception among many American English that there is a federal limit at 18, but that is fake, as the age limit point in virtually United States Department of State is in fact below 18.


Federal Laws ...

{ Chapter 117, 18 U.S.C. 2422 ( b ) } forbids the use of the United state Postal Service or other interstate or foreign mean of communication, such as telephone calls or use of the cyberspace, to persuade or lure a tike ( defined as under 18 throughout chapter ) to be involved in a criminal sexual act. The act has to be illegal under body politic or federal law to be charged with a offense under 2422 ( b ), and can even be applied to position where both political party reside within the same Department of State but use an wink messenger program whose servers are located in another state.

{ Chapter 117, 18 U.S.C. 2423 ( a ) } forbids transporting a underage ( defined as under 18 ) in interstate or foreign commerce with the design of engaging in reprehensible sexual acts in which a person can be charged. This subdivision is ambiguous on its face, and only seems to employ when the minor is transported across state or international lines to a plaza where the conduct is already illegal to begin with. The United States department of Justice seems to hold with this interpretation.

{ Chapter 117, 18 U.S.C. 2423 ( b ) } forbids travelling in interstate highway or extraneous DoC to betroth in `` illicit sexual behavior '' with a child. 2423 ( f ) refers to Chapter 109A as its bright line for defining `` illicit sexual demeanour '', as far as non-commercial sexual activity is concerned. For the function of age of consent, the only provision applicable is { Chapter 109A, 18 U.S.C. 2243 ( a ) } 2243 ( a ) refers to post where such younger person is under the age of 16 years, has attained 12 old age of age, and the senior person is Sir Thomas More than 4 age sr. than the 12-15 year old ( persons under 12 are handled under 18 U.S.C. 2241 ( c ) under aggravated sexual abuse ). So, the age is 12 old age if one is within 4 years of the 12-15 year old 's age, 16 under all other destiny. This most likely reflects Congressional intent to not unduly interfere with a State 's age of consent law, which would have been the typeface if the age was set to 18 under all destiny. This law is also extraterritorial in nature to the States Citizens and resident who travel outside of the United commonwealth.

Although statute law tends to contemplate general societal attitudes regarding Male versus female ages of consent, Richard Posner notes in his Guide to America 's Sex natural law ;

'' The U.S. Supreme Margaret Court has held that stricter rules for males do not desecrate the compeer security clause of the Constitution, on the theory that men lack the deterrence associated with maternity that women have to engage in intimate activity, and the law may thus provide men with those disincentives in the form of criminal sanctions. ''

Local law of nature ....

Heart of Dixie
The age of consent is 16, minimum age for civic John R. Major ( 19 years old ).
Shown by clause of the code of Alabama River :
• 13A-6-70 :
( c ) A person is deemed incompetent of consent if he is : ( 1 ) Less than 16 years old ; or ...
• 13A-6-67 :
( a ) A soul commits the criminal offence of sexual ill-treatment in the second degree if : ...
( 2 ) He, being 19 years old or older, subjects another person to intimate contact who is less than 16 old age old, but more than 12 geezerhood old.
• 13A-6-61 ``
( a ) A person commits the crime of rape in the first grade if : ...
( 3 ) He or she, being 16 years or erstwhile, engages in intimate sexual relation with a extremity of the opposition sex who is less than 12 years old.
• 13A-6-62 ``
( a ) A person commits the law-breaking of colza in the indorsement academic degree if : ...
( 1 ) Being 16 years old or erstwhile, he or she engages in sexual coitus with a fellow member of the opposite sex less than 16 and Sir Thomas More than 12 years old ; provided, however, the thespian is at least two class honest-to-god than the member of the diametrical sex.
( 2 ) He or she engages in sexual intercourse with a penis of the contrary sex who is incapable of consent by ground of being mentally faulty.
• 13A-6-64 :
( a ) A someone commits the offense of anal sex in the minute arcdegree if : ...
( 1 ) He, being 16 years old or erstwhile, engages in deviant intimate intercourse with another person less than 16 and more than 12 year old.

AK
The age of consent is 16, provided the older collaborator is not in a position of confidence.
Alaska legislative act - title 11. malefactor Law - Chapter 41. Offenses Against the person - Sexual Abuse of a kid
Section 436 in the First stage ( Unclassified Felony ) ; Section 436 in the Second Degree ( Class B Felony ) ;
Section 438 in the Third point ( Class C Felony ) ; segment 440 : in the one-fourth Degree ( Class A misdemeanor )
Sexual revilement of a Minor in the .... :
• Younger fry under 13 + Elder nipper under 16 ( to a greater extent than 3 years between them ) :
o Sexual contact = 4th academic degree & Sexual penetration = 3rd stage
• Younger kid under 13 + Elder small fry above 16 :
o pornography = 2nd arcdegree ( younger under 16 vs. elder above 16 )
o Sexual contact = 2nd stage ( for senior minor oneself or if ( s ) he helps another person )
o Sexual penetration = 1st Degree ( for elder venial oneself or if ( s ) he helps another person )
• Younger minor 13-15 + elder tike above 16 ( Thomas More than 3 geezerhood between them ) :
o Sexual contact = 3rd Degree
o Sexual penetration = 2nd arcdegree ( for elder minor oneself or if ( s ) he helps another person )
o pornography = 2nd arcdegree ( jr. under 16 vs. elder above 16 )
• Minor under 16 + mate above 18 ( civic majority ) if cohabitant with authority or emplacement of authorisation :
o Sexual striking = 2nd arcdegree & Sexual insight = 1st Degree.
• child under 18 + parent or shielder above 18 :
o Sexual contact = 2nd Degree & Sexual penetration = 1st stage
Indecent pic :
• with masturbation, in figurehead of tyke under 16 = Indecent Exposure in the 1st grade ( Class C Felony )
• simply, in front of youngster under 16 = Indecent photograph in the 2nd arcdegree ( Class A misdemeanor )
• simply, in front of above 16 = Indecent Exposure in the 2nd degree ( course of study B misdemeanour ).

genus Arizona
The age of consent in Arizona is 18. However there exist in the legislation defenses to prosecution if the suspect is close in age to the `` victim '' or a spouse of the `` dupe ''. musical note : these are not close in age elision but defenses at court. Grand Canyon State Revised statute 13-1405 ( A )
13-1407 ( demurrer )
• B. It is a defense to a prosecution pursuant to segment 13-1404 and 13-1405 in which the dupe 's lack of consent is based on incapacity to consent because the victim was fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age if at the time the defendant engaged in the behaviour constituting the discourtesy the defendant did not love and could not reasonably have known the age of the dupe.
• D. It is a Defense to a criminal prosecution pursuant to section 13-1404 or 13-1405 that the soul was the mate ( legally married AND cohabiting ) of the former person at the time of commission of the act ...
• F. It is a defense to a prosecution pursuant to section 13-1405 if the victim is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen class of age, the defendant is under nineteen years of age or attending high school and is no more than xxiv calendar month sometime than the dupe and the conduct is consensual.


Arkansas
The age of consent is 16, with some finish in age exemptions.
contingent : The age is minimum 16 for a venial ( < 18 ) with a major more than 20 long time old. Under 18, the younger must not be LE than 14, or if so, there is a defense lawyers if the minor is not more 4 long time untried if above 12, not more 3 old age younger if under 12. intimate carnal knowledge of a major and a shaver under 14 is a Brassica napus.

AR Code - Title 5. Criminal offensive activity - Chapter 14. Sexual Offenses. incision 5-14-
103, 124, 125, 126, 127
5-14-127. ( a ) A soul commits sexual assault in the fourth level if the person :
• ( 1 ) being twenty ( 20 ) years of age or quondam, engages in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual bodily process with another mortal who is :
o ( A ) LE than 16 ( 16 ) years of age ; and ( B ) Not the person 's mate ; or
• ( 2 ) Engages in sexual contact with another somebody who is :
o ( A ) Less than sixteen ( 16 ) years of age ; and ( B ) Not the somebody 's spouse.
( b )
• ( 1 ) Sexual assault in the fourth academic degree under section ( a ) ( 1 ) of this subdivision is a course D felony.
• ( 2 ) Sexual assault in the fourth degree under subsection ( a ) ( 2 ) of this division is a Class A infringement if the person engages only in sexual touch with another person as described in subdivision ( a ) ( 2 ) of this section.

California
The age of consent is 18, with a infringement if the minor has 3 or fewer years of deviation with the Major. penalisation increase if the tyke is under 14 and the major is above 21.
textbook :
• Golden State Penal Code - Part 1. of offense and penalisation -
o Title 9. of criminal offence against the individual involving intimate rape, and criminal offense against public decency and skillful morality
 Chapter 1. ravishment, abduction, animal ill-treatment of shaver, and seduction. - Section 261.5.
 ( a ) Unlawful intimate intercourse is an act of intimate intercourse accomplished with a person who is not the spouse of the perpetrator, if the somebody is a minor. For the intent of this department, a `` minor '' is a somebody under the age of 18 years and an `` adult '' is a mortal who is at least 18 days of age and onetime.
 ( b ) Any person who engages in an act of unlawful sexual coitus with a tike who is not more than three days older or three years vernal than the perpetrator, is shamefaced of a misdemeanor.
 ( c ) Any individual who engages in an act of wrongful intimate intercourse with a minor who is to a greater extent than three years unseasoned than the culprit is guilty of either a infraction or a felony, and shall be punished by internment in a county jail not exceeding one twelvemonth, or by incarceration in the state prison.
 ( d ) Any person 21 years of age or elder who engages in an act of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor who is under 16 years of age is guilty of either a infringement or a felony, and shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment in the province prison house for two, three, or four years.

Colorado
The age of consent in Colorado is 17, however there exists in the legislation close in age exclusion which allow those aged 15 and 16 to mesh in enactment with those LE than ten years aged and those less than 15 to engage in human action with those less than four years older. However a 17 class old can not legally consent to person that is in spot of trust.
18-3-402 ( 1 ) Any thespian who knowingly inflicts sexual usurpation or sexual penetration on a dupe commits sexual assault if : ( d ) At the prison term of the commission of the act, the dupe is LE than fifteen twelvemonth of age and the actor is at least four old age honest-to-goodness than the victim and is not the spouse of the dupe ; or ( e ) At the prison term of the commission of the act, the victim is at least fifteen eld of age but less than seventeen years of age and the role player is at least ten class sometime than the dupe and is not the partner of the victim ;
CO Revised statute website

Connecticut
The age of consent is 16. between 13 and 16, it is a positive defense against the sexual encounter, if the age difference of opinion is less than 3 years.
But if the thespian of misuse has confidence or influence ( and is above 20 ), the consent age is 18.
For most law-breaking, there is a speculative felony or misdemeanor classification if the minor is under 16.
General statute of CT - form of address 53a. Penal code - Chapter 952 Offenses. - Sections 53a-70 to 53a-73a.
Sec. 53a-71. intimate assault in the second level : Class C or B felony. ( a ) A person is shamed of sexual assault in the second degree when such mortal engages in sexual intercourse with another person and : ( 1 ) Such former person is thirteen twelvemonth of age or quondam but under sixteen years of age and the actor is more than three days older than such person ;'
Section 53a-73a. sexual assault in the fourth part academic degree : Class A misdemeanor or stratum D felony.
( a ) A person is guilty of intimate assault in the fourth grade when : ... ( 6 ) such person is a school employee and subjects another someone to sexual tangency who is a educatee enrolled in a school in which the actor works or a school under the jurisdiction of the local or regional board of education which employs the histrion ;
or ( 7 ) such person is a coach in an gymnastic activity or a person who provides intensive, ongoing instruction and subjects another person to sexual contact who is a recipient of coaching or instruction from the role player and ( A ) is a secondary schooltime student and receives such coaching or education in a secondary school setting, or ( B ) is under eighteen years of age ;
or ( 8 ) such mortal field of study another person to sexual link and ( A ) the histrion is twenty years of age or older and stands in a position of power, authority or supervision over such other mortal by merit of the histrion 's professional, legal, occupational or volunteer status and such other person 's involvement in a program or activity, and ( B ) such other mortal is under 18 days of age.

Delaware
The age of consent in Delaware River is 18, but it is legal for teenagers aged 16 and 17 to engage in intimate intercourse as long as the elderly partner is young than 30.
Title 11 § 761. Definitions generally applicable to sexual offences. ( j ) A child who has not yet reached his or her sixteenth part natal day is deemed unable to accept to a sexual act with a person more than 4 year older than said shaver. child who have not yet reached their twelfth part birthday are deemed unable to consent to a sexual act under any circumstances. Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Delaware Criminal Code

District of Columbia University
The age of consent in the dominion of Columbia River is 16 with a close in age freedom for those within four year of age.

Florida
The age of consent in Florida is 18, but close in age exemptions exist. By law, the exception permits an grownup under the age of 24 to pursue in legal sexual activity with a minor no younger than the age of 16.
794.05 Unlawful sexual activity with sure minors. -- ( 1 ) A somebody 24 year of age or aged who engages in sexual activity with a person 16 or 17 years of age commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. As used in this division, `` sexual activity '' means oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the intimate organ of another ; however, sexual activeness does not include an act done for a bona fide medical checkup design Florida codification, deed XLVI, Chapter 794

Georgia
The age of consent in Empire State of the South is 16 as specified by Section 16.6.3 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
Also stated in the Criminal Code of Georgia 16.6.3 subdivision ( c ), if a person is `` at least 14 but lupus erythematosus than 16 twelvemonth of age and the somebody convicted of statutory rape is 18 years of age or younger and is no more than four years elder than the victim, such person shall be hangdog of a misdemeanor. ``

Hawai'i
• For age of consent in Aloha State and the territory in the Pacific Ocean, see : long time of consent in Oceanica # United States

Idaho
The age of consent in Idaho is 18 in ordinary fortune with no close in age exclusion as specified in the Idaho statutes 18-1601

Illinois
The age of consent to sexual bodily process is 17. It is also illegal for a person to commit sexual human activity on a soul under the age of 18 if he/she has a position of authority or trustingness over the victim.

Indiana
The age of consent in Indiana is 16.
IC 35-42-4-9 Sexual misconduct with a fry Sec. 9. ( a ) A person at least 18 ( 18 ) years of age who, with a fry at to the lowest degree 14 ( 14 ) years of age but less than sixteen ( 16 ) days of age, performs or submits to sexual carnal knowledge or depart sexual demeanor commits sexual wrongdoing with a child, a Class C felony. However, the offense is : ( 1 ) a Class B felony if it is committed by a soul at least 21 ( 21 ) years of age ...

Hawkeye State
The age of consent in Hawkeye State is 16, with a finish in age exemption for those aged 14 and 15, who may engage in sexual Acts with partners lupus erythematosus than 4 twelvemonth onetime.
discussion section 709.4 states : A mortal commits sexual contumely in the third degree when the person performs a sex act under any of the following circumstances ... 2 ( c ) The former individual is 14 or fifteen years of age and any of the keep abreast are dead on target ... ( 4 ) The person is four or more old age older than the other person.
Section 709.15 forbids, amongst other things, sexual middleman between a school employee and a `` ... person who is currently enrolled in or attending a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school, or who was a bookman enrolled in or who attended a world or nonpublic uncomplicated or secondary school day within 30 Day of any violation ... `` There exist similar law of nature for those who provide or purport to leave genial health services { §709.15 }, officers in charge of offender and juvenile person { §709.16 }.
Iowa 's `` banishment law ''

Ioway codification lookup
Iowa : foster reading :
• ACLU article `` Iowa file First Ever Class-Action cause Challenging Sex Offender ` Banishment ` `` ( 2003-6-25 )
• Quadcity Times article `` Iowa lawmakers mulling changing sex-offender law `` ( 2003-2-15 )
• Thomas More recent Quadtimes article `` prosecuting attorney : ` Dump offender rule ` `` ( 2006-1-24 )


Kansas
The age of consent in Sunflower State as specified by K.S.A. 21-3503 is 16.

Kentucky
The age of consent in KY is 16. surgical incision 510.020 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes deems a person unable to accept if he or she is less than 16 days old. It is a defense however if the `` victim '' is at to the lowest degree 14 and the player is to a lesser extent than 5 long time older { 510.130 ( b ) }
Additionally, under 510.120 ( d ) it is `` sexual abuse in the instant degree, '' a Class A misdemeanor, for a soul over 21 to possess sex with anyone under 18 for whom he or she provides a further home.

LA
The age of consent in Louisiana is 17.
§80. Felony carnal noesis of a juvenile A. Felony animal knowledge of a juvenile is committed when : ( 1 ) A person who is xix years of age or honest-to-goodness has sexual intercourse, with consent, with a someone who is twelve years of age or older but LE than seventeen years of age, when the victim is not the better half of the wrongdoer ; or ...
§80.1. Misdemeanor sensual knowledge of a juvenile A. Misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile is committed when a somebody who is 17 eld of age or former but LE than nineteen old age of age has intimate coitus, with consent, with a somebody who is 15 years of age or senior but less than seventeen years of age, when the victim is not the spouse of the offender, and when the difference of opinion between the age of the victim and age of the offender is swell than two years.

Maine
The age of consent in Maine is 16. stripling aged 14 and 15 may lock in intimate sexual intercourse with pardner who are less than 5 age older.
§254. Sexual abuse of small fry 1. A person is shamed of sexual ill-usage of a minor if : A. The individual engages in a intimate act with another somebody, not the actor 's spouse, who is either 14 or 15 yr of age and the actor is at least 5 age erstwhile than the former soul.

Old Line State
The age of consent in Maryland is 16. An elision is made when the thespian is not at least four class previous than the dupe. However, if soul in a `` spatial relation of authority '' engages in a sexual act with a tiddler, he or she may be guilty of sexual offence in the fourthly degree as specified by Maryland Code § 3-308.

Massachusetts Bay Colony
The age of consent in Old Colony is 16, as specified by Chapter 265, incision 23 of the General jurisprudence of Massachusetts, which states :
'' Whoever unlawfully has intimate intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse, and abuses a child under sixteen age of age shall ... be punished ... '' MGL 265-23
However, Chapter 272, segment 4 sets another age of consent at 18 when the `` victim '' is `` of chaste life-time '' and the perpetrator induces them.
'' Whoever induces any person under 18 geezerhood of age of chaste aliveness to have illegitimate intimate carnal knowledge shall be punished. `` MGL 272-4

boodle
The age of consent in Michigan is 16, unless one is an authority fig in which case the age of consent is 18.

North Star State
The age of consent in Minnesota is 16.
If the actor is in a spatial relation of federal agency, the age of consent is 18. If the victim is under the age of 13 the histrion must be no Sir Thomas More than 36 months sr.. If the victim is 13, 14 or 15 the worker must be no more than 48 month older. The specific of these laws are covered under department 609.34x of the Minnesota Criminal Code. Specifically sections 609.341 Definitions, 609.342 Criminal Sexual Conduct in the First degree, 609.343 Criminal Sexual demeanour in the arcsecond Degree, 609.344 Criminal Sexual Conduct in the tierce Degree, 609.345 Criminal Sexual Conduct in the quartern Degree, 609.3451 outlaw Sexual doings in the fifth part stage, and 609.349 voluntary relationship These laws have been translated into layman 's terms at the nestling sexual abuse prevention website youcanstopitnow.org

Mississippi
The age of consent in Mississippi is 16. The offense of statutory ravishment is committed when :
1. Any person seventeen ( 17 ) year of age or older has sexual intercourse with a child who :
1. Is at least XIV ( 14 ) but under sixteen ( 16 ) years of age ;
2. Is thirty-six ( 36 ) or Thomas More months younger than the person ; and
3. Is not the someone 's spouse ; or
2. A person of any age has sexual social intercourse with a fry who :
1. Is under the age of fourteen ( 14 ) class ;
2. Is twenty-four ( 24 ) or more months vernal than the person ; and
3. Is not the somebody 's spouse.

Missouri
Since July 2006, the age of consent in Missouri is 17, regardless of sexual predilection and/or grammatical gender
Mistake as to the age of the dupe may be a defense in some circumstances as defined in RSMo 566.020
Statutory rape and buggery, RSMo §§ 566.032 and 566.062 involve a child less than 14 yr of age. Statutory rapine and sodomy in the second point, RSMo §§ 566.034 and 566.064 involve a child less than 17 years of age and an accused who is 21 eld of age or old. The crime of Child molestation in the 2nd level, RSMo § 566.068, occurs when a fry less than 17 year of age is subject to `` sexual contact ''.
The preeminence among those crime has led some to the false conclusion that Missouri has a close in age elision. Missouri has no such exception beyond the degree of crime committed.
While the statutory form of address are cast in terminal figure of violation and anal sex, the statutes prohibit conduct that is described as `` intimate carnal knowledge '' and `` deviant intimate relation ''. Those condition are defined in RSMo § 566.010
Missouri 's definition of consent is also a bit odd. The courts may swallow as sufficient cogent evidence of `` forcibly compelled '' sexual carnal knowledge, evidence of the dupe perceived susceptibleness, youth and deficiency of experience, to person in positions of authority, which include souvenir vendors, and substantiation deviant sexual coition as sufficient grounds for a violation or buggery conviction. See Department of State v. Vandevere, 175 S.W.3d 107, SC 86802 ( Mo Oct 15 2005 ) ( declaring a relic vendor held a position of sureness but including some evidence of force, albeit guiding the victim through the hotel third house by her cubitus ) and State v. Niederstadt, 66 S.W.3d 12, SC 83914 ( Mo January 22 2002 ) ( holding that, even though the victim was asleep, the defendant inserted his finger, which must take in involved physical force applied to the body, therefore the evidence was sufficient to essay forcible sodomy ). Niederstadt was accused of forcible anal sex and in the mediate three paragraphs of the opinion you will notice that the court reasoned : forcible anal intercourse requires evidence of strong-arm compulsion ; physical irresistible impulse includes physical force-out ; forcible force is force applied to the body ; the act of deviant sex, digital penetration, required applying force play to the body ; therefore, the nation presented sufficient evidence of strong-arm deviant sexual intercourse.
A total list of the offenses listed in Chapter 566 of Missouri River 's revised statute is useable here. There are some tangential offence in chapter 567 concerning prostitution and closely related offense, particularly those involving endangering the eudaimonia of youngster in Chapter 568, which can explored further by selecting the respective chapters here

Montana
The age of consent in Treasure State is 16.

Nebraska
The age of consent in Nebraska is 17.
subdivision 28-319 Sexual violation ; first stage ; penalization. ( 1 ) Any soul who subjects another person to sexual penetration ... ( c ) when the role player is nineteen year of age or older and the victim is at least twelve but LE than sixteen years of age is shamed of sexual assault in the firstly degree.
Debauching a small-scale ; penalty. ( 1 ) Any someone not a minor commits the umbrage of debauching a tiddler if he or she shall profane or debauch the morality of any boy or girl under the age of seventeen years by : ( a ) Lewdly inducing such boy or girl carnally to know any other individual ...

Nevada
The age of consent in Nevada is 16.
NRS 200.364 Definitions. As used in NRS 200.364 to 200.3774, inclusive, unless the linguistic context otherwise requires : ... 3."Statutory sexual seduction"means : ( a ) ordinary bicycle intimate intercourse, anal intercourse, cunnilinctus or fellatio committed by a someone 18 years of age or sure-enough with a mortal under the age of 16 days ; or ( b ) Any other sexual penetration committed by a somebody 18 old age of age or sr. with a somebody under the age of 16 years with the purport of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust or passions or sexual desires of either of the somebody.

New Hampshire
The age of consent in New Hampshire is 16. However a closing in age exception exists where a person may `` wage in intimate penetration '' with a person 13 twelvemonth old or older and unseasoned than 16 if their age difference is less than 3 geezerhood. However if the spouse is acting `` in loco parentis '', e.g. as a teacher or a guardian, the lower limit age is 18. NH Criminal computer code incision 632-A:3 and discussion section 632-A:2

New Jersey
The age of consent in New Jersey is 16. However, bush league aged 13, 14 and 15 may legally wage in sexual bodily function with persons up to 4 days older than them. For exercise, it is rightful for a 14 year old male or female to engage in sex with a person up to 18 years of age. This also applies for 13 class olds ( up to 17 ), and etc.

New United Mexican States
The age of consent in New Mexico is 16.
30-9-11. Criminal sexual penetration ... F.Criminal intimate insight in the quaternary academic degree consists of all malefactor sexual insight : ( 1 ) not defined in Subsections C through E of this section perpetrated on a child thirteen to sixteen years of age when the perpetrator is at least eighteen years of age and is at least four years sr. than the shaver and not the married person of that child ;

New House of York
The age of consent in New York is 17.
The law-breaking will be more serious depending on relation eld, thus :
• Sex with a person under 17 is a misdemeanor if the perpetrator is at least 16 ( see infra ). ("Sexual actus reus,"NY Penal Law § 130.20. )
• Sex with a person under 17 is a Class"E"felony if the perpetrator is at least 21. ("Rape in the third degree,"NY Penal Law § 130.25 ;"Criminal sexual act in the tierce point,"NY Penal Law § 130.40. )
• Sex with a person under 15 is a year"D"felony if the culprit is at least 18. However, it is a defence mechanism to this charge if an 18 year-old perpetrator proves by a prevalence that he or she was less than four years sometime than the victim. This is not a defence to any other charge that might apply, i.e., intimate actus reus, supra. ("Rape in the minute degree,"NY Penal Law § 130.30 ;"felon sexual act in the moment degree,"NY Penal Law § 130.45. )
• Sex with a person under 13 is a course of study"B"violent felony if the perpetrator is at to the lowest degree 18. ("Rape in the first degree,"NY Penal Law § 130.35 [ 4 ] ;"crook intimate act in the first degree,"NY Penal Law § 130.50 [ 4 ]. )
• Sex with a person under 11 is a category"B"violent felony if the perpetrator is at least 16. ("Brassica napus in the first point,"NY Penal Law § 130.35 [ 3 ] ;"crook sexual act in the first level,"NY Penal Law § 130.50 [ 3 ]. )
'' Sex, '' as used above, refers to the four conspicuous types of sexual acts, including `` sexual congress '', and the three contour of Acts of the Apostles known as `` aberrant sexual relation '' under the former ( pre-2003 ) law, now called `` oral sexual behaviour '' ( both case ), and `` anal retentive intimate conduct. ''
Non-intercourse sexual body process is also regulated based on age. Non-intercourse sexual body process, called `` sexual contact '' is defined as `` any touch of the intimate or other intimate parts of a person not married to the actor for the purpose of gratifying intimate desire of either party. It includes the touch of the worker by the victim, as well as the touch of the dupe by the thespian, whether directly or through clothing. `` ( NY Penal Law § 130.00 [ 3 ]. ) If the person is underage such `` sexual contact '' can institute the crime of `` intimate contumely. ''
• '' Sexual link '' with a someone less than 17 but at least 14, by a culprit who is at least five years older than the victim is `` Sexual contumely in the third level, '' a class B misdemeanor. ( NY Penal Law § 130.55. )
• '' Sexual link '' with a person less than 14 is `` Sexual vilification in the second degree, '' a division A misdemeanor, if the perpetrator is at least 16. ( NY Penal Law § 130.60 [ 2 ]. )
• '' Sexual impinging '' with a soul less than 11 is `` sexual revilement in the showtime degree, '' a form `` D '' violent felony, if the perpetrator is at least 16. ( NY Penal Law § 130.65 [ 3 ]. )
=Certain defenses=
It is not a vindication that the perpetrator believed the victim was old than is later proven. ( NY Penal Law § 15.20 [ 3 ] ).
Legally recognized marriage is a defense. ( NY Penal Law § 130.10 [ 4 ]. )
The ONLY minimum age for a perpetrator of first degree rape/criminal sexual act with a dupe under 11 ( NY Penal Law §§ 130.35 [ 3 ] & 130.35 [ 3 ] ), sexual abuse in the 1st and endorsement degrees ( NY Penal Law §§ 130.65 [ 3 ] & 130.60 [ 2 ] ), and misdemeanor Sexual actus reus ( NY Penal Law § 130.20 ) is provided by the defense mechanism of infancy found at NY Penal Law § 30.00 ( 1 ). That age is 16 years old. Someone under that age may be adjudicated a juvenile juvenile delinquent, but may not commit these crimes. On the other handwriting, someone who is 16 eld old commits a crime by voluntarily having sex with anyone who can not themselves legally consent to sex, including another 16-year-old, even if this `` victim '' is actually older. ( people v. archer, 88 Misc. 2d 50 ; 387 N.Y.S.2d 982 [ City Crim. Ct. 1976 ] ; topic of Jessie C., 164 A.D.2d 731 ; 565 N.Y.S.2d 941 [ 4 Dept., 1991 ]. ) In effect, mutual crimes are committed when two unmarried 16-year-old individuals voluntarily have sex with each other in New York state, each being the `` victim '' of the early.
=Other crimes=
Depending on how the legislative act is construed, `` Predatory sexual assault against a shaver, '' a course of study A-II felony, may subsume all instances of `` statutory '' first degree rape/criminal sexual act where the victim is under 13 ( NY Penal Law §§ 130.35 [ 4 ], 130.35 [ 4 ] ) and the perpetrator over 18. ( NY Penal Law § 130.96. )
There are former special discourtesy, namely `` Course of sexual conduct against a youngster in the first degree '' and `` Course of sexual conduct against a nestling in the instant academic degree '' that punish sex with an underage individual combined with an additional illegal sexual act during widely time period. These do not subject a person to more penalisation than the crimes listed above, but only provide a gismo for prosecutors to avoid the requirement that a individual sex act be specified in a assault indictment. ( See, People v. Beauchamp, 74 N.Y.2d 639 ; 539 N.E.2d 1105 [ 1989 ]. )
( notation that `` crimson felonies '' are specified by NY Penal Law § 70.02. Actual `` violence '' is irrelevant. )
New York Penal Law clause 130

North Carolina
The age of consent in North Carolina in general is 16, though no schoolhouse faculty appendage can give any sexual activity with any student except when married to the person { §14 27.7 }. Any sexual intercourse with a someone under 16 age of age is prohibited unless the defendant is to a lesser extent than 4 year one-time than the victim except when married to the individual { §14 27.2, 14 27.4 & 14 27.7A }.
There is no defence reaction against a charge of assault that the victim is the spouse of soul committing the act { §14 27.8 }.
North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 14

Second Earl of Guilford Dakota
The age of consent in North Dakota is 18.
12.1-20-03. receipts sexual imposition - Penalty.
1.A someone who engages in a sexual act with another, or who causes another to engage in a intimate act, is guilty of an offense if ... d.The victim is LE than xv yr old
Section 12.1-20-05 of the computer code refers to intimate bit between adults and teenagers aged 15, 16 and 17 :
12.1-20-05.Corruption or solicitation of bush league.
1. An adult who engages in, solicits with the intent to engage in, or causes another to charter in a sexual act with a minor, is guilty of a class A infringement if the dupe is a minor fifteen years of age or aged.
2. An adult who solicits with the design to take in a sexual act with a youngster under age fifteen or engages in or causes another to plight in a sexual act when the adult is at least twenty-two days of age and the victim is a minor fifteen eld of age or older, is guilty of a class C felony.

Ohio
The age of consent in OH is 16 as specified by division 2907.04 of Ohio legislation. However there exists a finish in age exception where an offender can be charged only if 18 long time of age or older. However in that case, it is possible for both bush league to be charged as `` unruly '' if brought to court { § 2151.022 }
2907.04 Unlawful sexual conduct with small.
( A ) No person who is eighteen years of age or quondam shall engage in sexual doings with another, who is not the better half of the offender, when the offender knows the other person is thirteen years of age or honest-to-goodness but LE than sixteen old age of age, or the wrongdoer is reckless in that regard. { § 2907.04 }

Sooner State
The age of consent in OK is 16.
§21-1111. rape defined. A. ravishment is an act of sexual relation involving vaginal or anal penetration accomplished with a male person or female who is not the spouse of the perpetrator and who may be of the Lapplander or the opposite sex as the culprit under any of the abide by luck : 1. Where the victim is under sixteen ( 16 ) years of age ...
There exists, however, a stopping point in age exemption :
§21 1112. Age restriction on conviction for ravishment.
No individual can be convicted of Brassica napus or rape by orchestration on account of an act of sexual social intercourse with anyone over the age of fourteen ( 14 ) years, with his or her consent, unless such someone was over the age of eighteen ( 18 ) class at the time of such act.

Beaver State
The age of consent in Oregon is 18. intimate offenses are defined under the Oregon Revised legislative act Chapter 163. With regards to age only, the pursuit umbrage are defined.
18 - Consent for all laws.
Under 18 - Defined as sexual contumely 3 ( stratum A Misdemeanor )
Under 16 - Defined as violation 3 / anal sex 3 ( year C Felony ) ( ORS 163.245 )
Under 14 - Defined as Rape 2 / Sodomy 2 ( class B Felony )
Under 12 - Defined as Rape 1 / Sodomy 1 ( Class A Felony )
Additionally, OR has a 3 year linguistic rule defined under ORS 163.345. However, this does not hold to Rape 1, or sodomy 1, effectively limiting the age to 12. However, a person can still be charged with Sexual Misconduct ( family C Misdemeanor ) under ORS 163.445, if the victim was under 15 years old.

Penn
The age of consent in PA is 16 years of age. teen aged 13, 14 and 15 may legally engage in sexual activity with partner who are LE than 4 eld older.
It is very clear that there are no jurisprudence that directly criminalize any consensual non-coerced sexual conduct with any person the age of 16 or older unless certain mental military issue are pose ( mental retardation ).
A person who is four or more years older than a consenting partner who is less than 16 years of age or any person that is older than 13 and has engaged in intimate activity with someone under the age of 13 may be charged with the following felony sex offenses :
§ 3122.1. Statutory intimate assault.
Except as provided in plane section 3121 ( relating to rape ), a person commits a felony of the second arcdegree when that someone engages in sexual social intercourse with a plaintiff under the age of 16 years and that mortal is four or more years Old than the complainant and the complainant and the person are not married to each former.
§ 3125 Aggravated indecent rape
( 7 ) the complainant is lupus erythematosus than 13 years of age ; or ( 8 ) the plaintiff is to a lesser extent than 16 years of age and the person is four or more years elder than the plaintiff and the complainant and the somebody are not married to each former. ( b ) Aggravated indecent violation of a child. -- A someone commits aggravated uncomely ravishment of a fry when the person violates subdivision ( a ) ( 1 ), ( 2 ), ( 3 ), ( 4 ), ( 5 ) or ( 6 ) and the complainant is less than 13 years of age.
§ 3123 Involuntary deviate sexual sexual relation
( 7 ) who is less than 16 class of age and the person is four or more years older than the complainant and the plaintiff and individual are not married to each other.
It is very clear that there are no laws that directly criminalize any consensual non-coerced sexual conduct with any person the age of 16 or honest-to-goodness unless certain genial topic are introduce ( mental retardation ).
However ...
When the alleged victim is 16 or older and lupus erythematosus than 18 old age of age, a armorial bearing of subversion of a tike may be made.
Corruption of minors. ( a ) crime defined. -- ( 1 ) Whoever, being of the age of 18 years and upwards, by any act corrupts or tends to corrupt the morality of any pocket-size lupus erythematosus than 18 class of age, or who aids, abets, entices or encourages any such tike in the military commission of any offence, or who knowingly assists or encourages such minor in violating his or her parole or any order of court, commits a misdemeanor of the get-go point.
This armorial bearing typically is used only in plead agreements, but not in cases that actually led to a article of faith. In the vitrine cited, `` compulsion by agency '' was in play, this was offered to avoid a rape charge. This insinuates that the commonwealth believes that premarital sex is a corruption of morals.
• The Official PA Criminal Code

Rhode Island
The age of consent in Rhode Island is 16.
§ 11-37-6 third base degree sexual assault. - A person is guilty of third gear point intimate violation if he or she is over the age of eighteen ( 18 ) years and engaged in sexual penetration with another person over the age of fourteen ( 14 ) years and under the age of consent, sixteen ( 16 ) year of age.

Confederate States Carolinas
The age of consent in due south Carolina is 16.
discussion section 16-3-651. Criminal intimate conduct : definitions ... ( h ) `` sexual battery '' means sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anal intercourse, or any intrusion, however slight, of any office of a person 's body or of any object into the genital or anal opening of another person 's eubstance, except when such trespass is accomplished for medically recognized treatment or diagnostic purposes.
division 16-3-655. Criminal sexual conduct with a fry ; aggravating and mitigating portion ; penalization ; repetition wrongdoer. ( B ) A soul is shamefaced of felon intimate behavior with a minor in the secondment grade if : ... ( 2 ) the thespian engages in intimate battery with a victim who is at least xiv yr of age but who is less than sixteen years of age and the role player is in a position of familial, custodial, or official authority to coerce the dupe to posit or is erstwhile than the victim. However, a somebody may not be convicted of a violation of the provisions of this item if he is xviii eld of age or less when he engages in illicit but consensual sexual conduct with another person who is at least fourteen eld of age. In gain, mistake of age may be used as a defense.
SECTION 16-15-140. Committing or attempting libidinous act upon child under 16. It is outlawed for a person over the age of fourteen years to willfully and lewdly commit or attempt a lewd or lascivious act upon or with the dead body, or its parts, of a child under the age of xvi years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust or passions or intimate desires of the soul or of the child.

Confederate States of America Dakota
The age of consent in South Dakota is 16.
22-22-1. violation defined -- Degrees -- Felony. Rape is an act of sexual penetration accomplished with any individual under any of the observe context : ... ( 5 ) If the victim is thirteen class of age, but less than xvi days of age, and the perpetrator is at least three long time older than the victim.
22-22-7. Sexual contact with tike under sixteen -- Felony or misdemeanor. Any person, sixteen years of age or erstwhile, who knowingly engages in sexual impinging with another individual, former than that person 's spouse if the other person is under the age of sixteen years is guilty of a stratum 3 felony. If the player is less than three geezerhood older than the early soul, the actor is guilty of a Class 1 infraction. If an adult has a old judgment of conviction for a felony violation of this surgical incision, any subsequent felony conviction for a violation under this section, is a Class 2 felony. Notwithstanding § 23A-42-2, a charge brought pursuant to this section may be commenced at any time before the victim becomes age xxv or within seven age of the commission of the law-breaking, whichever is longer.
22-22-7.3. Sexual striking with baby under XVI geezerhood of age -- rape as infringement. Any someone, untried than sixteen eld of age, who knowingly engages in sexual contact with another person, other than his or her better half, if such other person is young than sixteen old age of age, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Tennessee
In a statutory rape showcase in Tennessee, the age of consent is 18. The position of the body politic of Tennessee on the age of consent is `` Statutory colza is intimate penetration of a victim by the suspect or of the suspect by the dupe when the dupe is at least thirteen ( 13 ) but less than eighteen ( 18 ) geezerhood of age and the defendant is at least four ( 4 ) eld sometime than the victim. '' { full schoolbook of TN statutory ravishment legal philosophy } Tennessee law does not give net counseling for shell in which both company are below age of consent.

TX
The age of consent in TX is 17 ( Texas Penal code Section 21.11 ). However, `` ... It is an optimistic defense lawyers to prosecution under this section that the actor ... was not more than three years older than the victim and of the opposite sex ... ( and ) did not use duress, force, or a menace against the victim at the time of the offence `` and is not a record sex offender { incision 21.11 ( b ) }.
Section 21.12 encourage prohibits all sexual contact between an employee of a schooling ( including pedagogue ) and a scholarly person enrolled at the primary or secondary school day where said employee whole shebang ( unless the student is the employee 's spouse ). No age is specified by the statute ( thus, even if the educatee has reached go for age of 17, it is still a violation ), and assault are a second stage felony.

Utah
The age of consent in Utah is 18. It is however legal for small fry aged 16 and 17 to engage in sexual bodily process with partners LE than 10 years older.
76-5-401.2. Unlawful intimate conduct with a 16 or 17 year old. ( 1 ) For intent of this section `` pocket-size '' means a person who is 16 year of age or senior, but untried than 18 years of age, at the time the sexual conduct described in this part occurred. ( 2 ) A person commits unlawful sexual conduct with a minor if, under circumstances not amounting to outrage, in intrusion of Section 76-5-402, object rape, in rape of surgical incision 76-5-402.2, forcible sodomy, in usurpation of surgical incision 76-5-403, or aggravated sexual Assault, in irreverence of Section 76-5-405, the actor who is ten or More class older than the minor at the time of the intimate deportment : ( a ) has intimate carnal knowledge with the youngster ; ( b ) engages in any sexual act with the minor involving the genitalia of one person and the back talk or anus of another individual, regardless of the sex of either participant ...
76-5-401.Unlawful sexual activity with a nipper -- Elements -- penalty -- grounds of age raised by defendant. ( 1 ) For intent of this section `` pocket-size '' is a person who is 14 years of age or former, but new than 16 years of age, at the time the sexual natural action described in this section occurred. ( 2 ) A person commits unlawful intimate body process with a nipper if, under context not amounting to rape, in intrusion of division 76-5-402, object Brassica napus, in violation of discussion section 76-5-402.2, forcible anal sex, in usurpation of Section 76-5-403, or aggravated intimate assault, in violation of incision 76-5-405, the actor : ( a ) has sexual intercourse with the nipper ; ( b ) engages in any sexual act with the tyke involving the genitals of one person and the mouth or anus of another someone, regardless of the sex of either participant ; or ( c ) causes the penetration, however slight, of the genital or anal retentive possibility of the kid by any strange objective, kernel, instrument, or device, including a portion of the homo soundbox, with the intent to have strong emotional or bodily ail to any person or with the aim to arouse or pander the sexual desire of any person, regardless of the sex of any participant. ( 3 ) A irreverence of Subsection ( 2 ) is a third gear degree felony unless the defendant establishes by a preponderance of the evidence the mitigating broker that the defendant is to a lesser extent than four eld older than the minor at the time the sexual bodily function occurred, in which case it is a class B infraction.

Vermont
The age of consent in Vermont is 16.
§ 3252. sexual ravishment ( c ) No person shall engage in a sexual act with a baby who is under the age of 16, except : ( 1 ) where the person are married to each other and the sexual act is consensual ; or ( 2 ) where the person is less than 19 yr old, the baby is at least 15 twelvemonth old, and the intimate act is consensual.

Old Dominion State
The age of consent in Virginia is 18, with an ostensible stopping point in age exception of 15 for those under 18. However the legislation is not clear cut, the details are discussed below :
Any penetrating sexual act other than penile-vaginal intercourse is defined in Virginia law as 'sodomy .'plane section 18.2-361 of the Code of Old Dominion State entitled `` offence against nature `` nation in parting ;
'' If any soul carnally knows in any manner any beast animal, or carnally knows any male or female person person by the anus or by or with the mouth, or voluntarily submits to such carnal knowledge, he or she shall be shamefaced of ... felony ... ``
In addition, any sexual intercourse is defined in Virginia law as 'fornication .'surgical incision 18.2-344 of the Code of Virginia entitled `` Crimes against nature `` state ;
'' Any someone, not being married, who voluntarily shall have sexual intercourse with any early somebody, shall be shamefaced of fornication, penal as a Class 4 misdemeanor. ``
The courts of Virginia have ruled that these legislative act are not shut-in under the US Supreme lawcourt 's decisiveness in E. O. Lawrence v. Texas since that case only applied to adults, and the age of bulk in Virginia is 18. This means that those 18 and above involved in consensual activity in private may have got a defense in court, but those under 18 do not.
Section 18.2-63 of the computer code refers to small fry immature than 15 and nation in part ;
'' If any soul carnally knows, without the use of force, a tiddler thirteen days of age or sure-enough but under fifteen year of age, such someone shall be guilty of ... felony ... For the intention of this section, ( i ) a child under the age of thirteen eld shall not be considered a consenting child and ( ii ) `` fleshly knowledge '' includes the acts of sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, analingus, anal intercourse, and animate and inanimate object sexual penetration. ``
Consensual sex where one collaborator is 15, 16 or 17 and the early is over 18 is a stratum 1 infraction.
§ 18.2-371. Causing or further deed rendering children delinquent, abused, etc. ; penalisation ; abandoned infant. Any mortal 18 yr of age or older, including the parent of any tike, who ( i ) willfully contributes to, encourages, or causes any act, omission, or precondition which renders a child delinquent, in demand of services, in need of supervision, or abused or neglected as defined in § 16.1-228, or ( ii ) engages in consensual sexual intercourse with a fry 15 or elderly not his partner, child, or grandchild, shall be guilty of a form 1 misdemeanour

Washington
The age of consent in Washington is 16.
It is also illegal to engage in sexual deed with someone untried than 18 under three unlike readiness of circumstances, enumerated in RCW 9A.44.096 Stephen Collins Foster parents with their foster children ; school teacher and school administration employees over their scholar ; The one-third set of destiny require all of the survey situation occur in tandem : The quondam person is 60 months or More sr. than the 16 or 17 year old, the individual is in a significant relationship as defined, and such older someone abuses the human relationship to have sexual striking.
• Several have reported that the immoral communication with a modest statute exists and places the age of consent at 18 due to the inability to `` pass along '' to 16- and 17-year-olds about sexual activity. These reports have been alarming in nature, however they are completely anecdotal, and perhaps even urban caption. The President Washington Court of entreaty, Division 1 decided in the case of State v. Danforth, 56 Wn. App. 133, 782 P.2d 1091 ( 1989 ) that such communication has to be for the intention of committing an illegal act under RCW Chapter 9.68A. Danforth 's judgment of conviction was overturned by that ruling. However, the Washington Supreme courtyard in the case of Department of State v. McNallie, 120 Wn.2d 925, 846 P.2d 1358 ( 1993 ) overturned the scope of the Danforth ruling ( though not the result ; Danforth would give birth still had his judgment of conviction overturned under the McNallie standard ), applying the communication statute to encompass all intimate misconduct with a minor, not just those under RCW Chapter 9.68A, which deal mostly with illegal child pornography and prostitution. Due to these cause, it is readable that communications with 16- and 17-year-olds just for general intimate bodily function is legal, as long as such conduct discussed is not about illegal behavior or would be illegal in real life ( such as the teacher/student context, the Stephen Collins Foster parent/foster child consideration, the substantial kinship maltreatment circumstance, or asking for illegal pictures or attempting to play such untried someone into prostitution ).

West Virginia
The age of consent in due west Old Dominion is 16.
§61-8B-5. Sexual Assault in the third degree. ( a ) A person is guilty of intimate assault in the 3rd degree when : ( 2 ) The person, being sixteen years old or more, engages in sexual coitus or sexual intrusion with another person who is to a lesser extent than sixteen years old and who is at least four years untried than the defendant and is not married to the suspect.

Wisconsin
The age of consent in Wisconsin is 18.
948.02 Sexual ravishment of a nestling ... 2 ) arcsecond degree SEXUAL ASSAULT. Whoever has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a mortal who has not attained the age of 16 years is guilty of a social class C felony ...
948.09 intimate sex act with a small fry age 16 or old. Whoever has intimate intercourse with a minor who is not the defendant's mate and who has attained the age of 16 long time is guilty of a grade A misdemeanor.

WY
• 18 - Per Wyoming statute 14-3-105 et sq as interpreted by the Wyoming Supreme court in state v. Pierson and State Department v. Moore Since consent of a 16 or 17 year old ( which was thought to be the age of consent for a different set of offences ) to non-commercial or non-threatening sexual bodily process is not an absolute Defense Department to be charged under 14-3-105, and submit to `` societal standards '' and parental objection, this effectively makes Equality State 's age of consent to be 18.

U.S. Virgo Islands
Paraphrasing Virgin Islands Code : V.I.C. § 1700-1709 virgin Islands computer code and appeals records Francis vs. VI NOTE : `` misapprehension of fact as to the victim 's age is not a defense ''. The law is complex and situational with 13, 16 and 18 listed under unlike situations. Generally, the age for inexhaustible consent is 18. With 16 allowed to accept with someone no more than five years older than themselves. 13 to 15 class olds may consent with one another, but not with anyone older. For example, a 15 class old may not consent with a XVI year old.





The codification reads as follows :
• § 1700. Aggravated rapine in the showtime level
( a ) Whoever perpetrates an act of intimate intercourse or anal intercourse with a mortal not the perpetrator 's partner
• ( 1 ) Who is under the age of 13, or…
• ( 2 ) who is under sixteen long time of age residing in the Saami household as the culprit, and strength, determent, or the culprit 's perspective of authority over the victim is used to accomplish the sexual act ; ...
• § 1700a. Aggravated rape in the endorsement grade
( a ) Whoever perpetrates an act of sexual sexual congress or buggery with a individual who is under XVIII years but XIII years or quondam and not the perpetrator 's spouse, or by personnel, intimidation, or the culprit 's position of self-confidence over the dupe is used to accomplish the intimate act, is hangdog of exacerbate rape in the minute degree and shall be imprisoned for life or for any full term in years, but not lupus erythematosus than 10 years."Position of authority"shall include, but not be exclusive to the chase : an employer, early days leader, sentry drawing card, coach-and-four, teacher, counsel, school administrator, spiritual leader, doctor, nursemaid, psychologist, guardian ad litem, baby sitter, or substantially interchangeable position, and a patrol officeholder or probation ship's officer other than when the officer is exercising tutelar control over a venial. ...
• § 1702. colza in the second degree
( a ) Any individual over 18 years of age who perpetrates under circumstances not amounting to outrage in the first degree, an act of intimate intercourse or sodomy with a someone not the perpetrator 's partner who is at least 16 years but less than 18 geezerhood of age, and the culprit is 5 years or sure-enough than the victim, is guilty of assault in the indorse degree and shall be imprisoned not more than 10 long time.
• § 1703. assault in the third degree
Any somebody under 18 years of age but over 16 days of age who perpetrates an act of intimate intercourse or sodomy with a person not the culprit 's spouse who is under 16 geezerhood of age but over 13 years of age, under circumstance not amounting to assault in the first degree, is shamed of ravishment in the tertiary degree and shall be subject to the legal power of the menage section of the Superior Court
• § 1708. improper intimate contact in the first degree
A somebody who engages in sexual striking with a someone not the perpetrator 's spouse— ( 1 ) when violence or compulsion is used to accomplish the sexual contact ; ( 2 ) when the early somebody is under XIII years of age ; ( 3 ) when the other mortal is under sixteen years of age residing in the same household as the perpetrator, and power, intimidation or the perpetrator 's posture of authority over the victim is used to achieve the sexual contact ;
• § 1709. wrongful sexual inter-group communication in the second degree
A soul over eighteen years of age who engages in sexual contact with a somebody not the perpetrator 's mate who is over thirteen but under sixteen years of age is shamed of unlawful intimate contact in the second gear level and shall be imprisoned not more than 1 year.

See also
• old age of consent
• Ages of consent in Africa
• Ages of consent in Asia
• historic period of consent in Commonwealth of Australia and Oceania
• Ages of consent in European Union
• old age of consent in exchange US
• age of consent in South the States

References
Further reading
• FBI website - describes various federal crimes against minors
• Iowa 's lifespan banishment for violating age of consent laws in any state. - newspaper column impression piece regarding Ioway 's Age of Consent laws regulating consensual sex between two adolescent.
• avert.org 's table of cosmopolitan ages of consent, includes US states
• Moral Outrage Legal excerpts & links for all US province.
• Age of Consent Accurate AOC chart for all 50 US states and Washtington DC. website also lists which states have age gap supply and/or mistake of age defence reaction .