State Laws 2024 by Chloe Lancaster

Florida, USA

chloelancaster97 — 2024-09-11 19:37:35 UTC

The age of consent in Florida is 18 years old. Minors less than 17 years of age are not able to consent to sexual activity. In this case, a sexual relationship between a 16- and 14-year-old would not be considered statutory rape. Dr. Lancaster

Texas

chloelancaster97 — 2024-09-11 19:37:35 UTC

The Texas Age of Consent is 17 years old. Individuals aged 16 or younger in Texas cannot legally consent to sexual activity, and such action may result in prosecution of statutory rape. Because there is no such "Romeo and Juliet law" in Texas, it is possible for two individuals both under the age of 17 who willingly engage in intercourse to both be prosecuted for statutory rape, although this is rare.

Long Island, New York

2024-10-07 11:13:42 UTC

The age of consent in New York is 17 years old and there is no close-in-age exemption. Even though two individuals can not engage in consensual sex until 17, while there is no Romeo and Juliet law, one would face charges of sexual misconduct in which it would go on their record....Phyllis Morales

New Jersey

2024-10-07 11:19:45 UTC

The age of consent in New Jersey is 16 years old, however, there is a close-in-age exemption. Since New Jersey's law indicates that one under the age 16 can not give consent, it is known as a sexual crime. The Romeo & Juliet law could apply from ages 13-15...Phyllis Morales

Connecticut

2024-10-07 11:23:59 UTC

The age of consent in Connecticut is 16 years old, however there is close-in-age exemption. Connecticut does not criminalize sexual relations that involve a 14-and a 16-year-old since the minors are 2-3 years apart in age. Overall, Connecticut tries to avoid criminalizing coupled minors who are both willing to have sex....Phyllis Morales

San Diego, CA

2024-10-15 20:06:10 UTC

California does not have a Romeo and Juliet law, which means that consensual sexual intercourse with someone under 18 is always considered statutory rape, even if both of them are under the age of 18. - Maria Francalacci

Cheyenne, WY

2024-10-15 20:21:02 UTC

The age of consent in Wyoming is 18, but according to the Romeo and Juliet's law many of Wyoming's statutory sexual abuse laws apply only when the parties are more than three or four years apart in age, meaning several close-in-age sexual relations are not considered crimes if both of them are minors. For instance, consensual sex between a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old is not considered sexual abuse because the teens are less than four years apart in age. - Maria Francalacci

Portland, OR

2024-10-15 20:24:03 UTC

The age consent in Oregon is 18 but Oregon's Romeo and Juliet's law don't criminalize consensual sex between two minors who are fewer than three years apart in age—unless one is younger than 12. Sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 12 is always a serious crime, no matter the age of the defendant. - Maria Francalacci

Illinois

2024-10-18 19:46:32 UTC

The Illinois Age of Consent is 17 years old. Individuals aged 16 or younger in Illinois are not legally able to consent to sexual activity. There are no Romeo and Juliet laws in Illinois, so consensual sexual relations between a 16 and a 14 year old would be considered statutory rape on both parties.

Macey Bland

Wisconsin

2024-10-18 19:51:17 UTC

The legal age of consent in Wisconsin is 18 years old. There is no close in age exemption or Romeo and Juliet law, so anyone 17 or younger having consensual sex can be prosecuted for statutory rape. There is a marital exemption which extends the ages to 16 and 17.

Macey Bland

Alabama

2024-10-18 19:57:15 UTC

The age of consent in Alabama is 16 years old. There is a close in age exemption, which is a gap less than two years. "Alabama statutory rape law is violated when an individual over age 18 (or 16 or older if the victim is at least 2 years younger than the offender) engages in sexual intercourse with a person over the age of 12 and under age 16. The offender commits the crime of sodomy If an individual age 16 or older engages in deviate sexual intercourse with a person under 16 and older than 12"

Consensual sexual relations between a 16 and 14 year old would be considered statutory rape in Alabama.

Macey Bland

Michigan

2024-10-22 20:37:46 UTC

In the state of Michigan, the age of consent is 16 years old. However, when the older party is in a position of authority the age of consent rises to 18 years old. Individuals who are 15 or younger legally cannot consent to participate in sexual activities. Michigan does not have "Romeo and Juliet laws" which makes it possible to prosecute the party who is of age to consent, or both parties if they are both under the age of 16.

The 14 year old student and her 16 year old boyfriends relationship would be considered statutory rape.

-Robin Reddic

Utah

2024-10-22 21:13:34 UTC

In Utah the age of consent is 18 years old. Individuals who are 17 years old and younger legally cannot give consent to participate in sexual activities. Utah does have "Romeo and Juliet law" which allows for teens 16 and 17 to give consent to partners no more than 7 years older. Partners who are between 7-10 years older and had no reasonable knowledge of the minors age is excused due to the close in age exemption.

The 14 year old student and her 16 year old boyfriends relationship would be considered statutory rape. The 14 year old is under the age of 16 who is able to give consent to those between 7 and 10 years older.

-Robin Reddic

Nevada

2024-10-22 21:55:48 UTC

The age of consent is 16. There are no specific Romeo and Juliet laws mentioned for close-age exceptions, indicating that cases involving minors younger than 16 are strictly prosecuted under standard sexual misconduct laws. - Jenny. Ianella

ATAC

Louisiana

rareddic15 — 2024-10-22 21:55:52 UTC

In Louisiana the age of consent is 17 years old. Those who are 16 years old or younger legally cannot give consent to participate in sexual relations. If intercourse with anyone aged 16 and under who is not the older individuals spouse occurs it will be considered statutory rape. Louisiana does not have "Romeo and Juliet laws" and will prosecute one or both individuals under age 17 who engage in sexual relations for statutory rape.

The 14 year old student and her 16 year old boyfriends relationship would be considered statutory rape as both are under the age of 17 and can be prosecuted.

-Robin Reddic

North Carolina

2024-10-22 21:56:27 UTC

The age of consent is 16. North Carolina has a Romeo and Juliet law that allows for consensual relationships between minors who are close in age. The law applies if both individuals are at least 12 years old and within four years of each other. - Jenny Ianella

Georgia

2024-10-22 21:57:38 UTC

The age of consent is also 16. Georgia does have a Romeo and Juliet law that decriminalizes consensual sexual relationships between minors who are no more than four years apart in age. - Jenny Ianella

Alaska

2024-10-23 18:04:43 UTC

The age of consent in Alaska is sixteen years old but also has a close in age exemption law. Depending on the situation, it may provide an exception or provide legal defense that could be used in prosecution for statutory rape. A violation occurs when one party is over the age of 16 has sexual intercourse with an individual is at least three years younger than the offender.

-Melanie Medina

Hawaii

2024-10-23 18:07:20 UTC

The age of consent in Hawaii is sixteen years old. There is a close-in age exemption that allows teens ages 14 and 15 to consent to partners less than five years older.

-Melanie Medina

Montana

2024-10-23 18:11:58 UTC

The age of consent in Montana is sixteen years old and does not have a close-in age exception. It's important to note that because of no Romeo and Juliet law here, both individuals who are under the age of 16 are willing to engage in intercourse to both be prosecuted for statutory rape; this is rare however. In addition, there's no protection reserved for a sexual relationship when one is 15 and the other is 16-17yrs old.

-Melanie Medina

Virginia

2024-10-24 02:48:08 UTC

The Virginia Age of Consent is 18. individuals ages 17 or younger would be prosecuted for statutory rape. Virginia has a "Romeo and Juliet Law" who are aged 15-17 who consent in sexual activity.

Colorado

2024-10-24 03:15:51 UTC

The Colorado age of consent is 17 years old. Individuals who are younger than 16 years old are not legally able to consent to sexual activity and would be prosecuted for statutory rape. This state has "Romeo and Juliet Law"

Washington

2024-10-24 03:20:05 UTC

The age of consent is 16 years old. Any individual 15 years old or younger who engages in sexual activity will be prosecuted for statutory rape. This state doesn't have a "Romeo and Juliet Law"

Nevada

adbeelmasseus — 2024-10-25 00:01:46 UTC

The Nevada age of consent is 16 years old. Individuals aged 15 or younger in Nevada are not legally able to consent to sexual activity, and such activity may result in prosecution for statutory rape. When a person has consensual sexual intercourse with and individual under 16 the statutory rape law is violated. There is no such "Romero and Juliet law" in Nevada. Therefore, even if the boyfriend reaches the age of consent 16 years old, the 14 years old girl student relation with him would be considered statutory rape.

Adbeel Masseus

Wyoming

adbeelmasseus — 2024-10-25 00:16:20 UTC

The age of consent in Wyoming is 17 years old. Individuals aged 16 or younger like the 14 years old girl student and his 16 years old boyfriend are not legally able to consent to sexual activity. Such activity may result in prosecution for statutory rape. In addition, there is no such "Romero and Juliet law" in Wyoming. Thus, this relation would be considered statutory rape.

Adbeel Masseus

Arizona

adbeelmasseus — 2024-10-25 00:43:43 UTC

The aged of consent in the state of Arizona is 18. Individuals aged 17 or younger are not legally able to consent to sexual activity. Arizona statutory rape is violated when an individual has sexual intercourse with a person under 18. However, if the victim and the offender are legally married or if the offender in under age 19 or currently attending high school and was not more than 2 years older than the victim when consensual intercourse occurred defenses exist. Furthermore, Arizona has "Romero and Juliet law", since in their situation both of them are under the age of consent and they are closed in age, there relation wouldn't be considered statutory rape.

Adbeel Masseus

Maine

2024-10-25 13:37:16 UTC

The age of consent in Maine is 16, meaning anyone 15 and under is not able to give consent for sexual activity or its statutory rape. Maine does have the "Romeo and Juliet" law for couples who are close in age. This means 14 and 15-year-olds can consent to their partners if they are less than 5 years older.

Kesler Slaton

Minnesota

2024-10-25 13:42:46 UTC

The age of consent in Minnesota is 16. This means individuals under the age of 15 are not able to consent to sexual activity, or it would be considered statutory rape. The age of consent is raised to 18 when it is an authority figure (teacher, principal, etc.). Minnesota doesn't have the "Romeo and Juliet" law. If the individual is 13-15, their partner cannot be older than 2 years, and if they're under the age of 13, their partner cannot be more than 3 years older, or it can be deemed statutory rape.

Kesler Slaton

New Mexico

2024-10-25 13:46:56 UTC

The age of consent for New Mexico is 17. This means anyone under the age of 16 is not able to consent to sexual activity, or it is statutory rape. The age of consent is raised to 18 when the perpetrator is school personnel or a school volunteer over 18. New Mexico does have a "Romeo and Juliet" law for couples close in age.

Kesler Slaton.

Maryland

2024-10-26 22:38:57 UTC

In Maryland the age of consent is 16. It is considered statutory rape to have a sexual relationship with someone who is under the age of 16 as those who are 15 and younger can't consent to sexual activity. There are also no Romeo and Juliet laws so the relationship would be considered statutory rape.

- Jazmine

New Hampshire

2024-10-26 22:47:06 UTC

In New Hampshire, the legal age of consent is 16. It's considered statutory rape to engage in sexual activity with someone who's under the age of 16 as they can't consent. New Hampshire does have Romeo and Juliet laws in place as long as the individuals are less than 3 years apart and the individual under 16 is older than 13. Therefore the relationship would be legal here.

-Jazmine

West Virginia

2024-10-26 22:53:41 UTC

In West Virginia, the age of consent is 16. It is considered statutory rape to engage in sexual activity with an individual who's under the age of 16. There are no Romeo and Juliet laws in West Virginia and both individuals would be persecuted for statutory rape.

-Jazmine

Pennsylvania

2024-10-27 03:06:25 UTC

In Pennsylvania the age of consent is 16. The Romeo and Juliet law states that teens in the age range of 13-15 can consent to sexual activity with a peer within 4 years age range.

Liza Vogus

Kentucky

2024-10-27 03:12:36 UTC

Kentucky law states that people under 16 are unable to make an informed decision about sexual activity. Engaging with a minor under 16 is considered statutory rape, even if the sex is consensual.

Liza Vogus

Oregon

2024-10-27 03:17:26 UTC

In the state of Oregon the age of consent is 18. Any person under the age of 18 is legally unable to consent to sex. There is age gap defense if the participants are less than 3 years apart in age.

Liza Vogus

Washington

2024-10-27 15:36:15 UTC

The age of consent in Washington is 16. They do not have an close-age exception, so there is no Romeo and Juliet law. Therefore, it would be statutory rape for a 16 year-old to have a sexual relationship with a 14-year old.

-Tamara Solum

Vermont

2024-10-27 15:37:54 UTC

The legal age for consent in Vermont is 16. They do have a close-age exemption. Therefore, the Romeo and Juliet law applies and a relationship between a 16 and 14 year old would not be considered statutory rape.

-Tamara Solum

Georgia

2024-10-27 15:39:53 UTC

The legal age of consent in Georgia is 16. they do not have a close-age exception. Therefore, a sexual relationship between a 16 year-old and a 14 year-old would be considered statutory rape.

-Tamara Solum

Ohio

2024-10-28 02:12:58 UTC

This relationship would not be considered statutory rape. Although the age of consent is 16 in Ohio, they have a close in age exemption meaning there is a Romeo and Juliet law. Since she is over the age of 13, she is allowed to consent to a partner under the age of 18.

Cierra Gordon

Utah

2024-10-28 02:15:43 UTC

The Utah Age of Consent is 18 years old. Individuals aged 17 or younger are not legally able to consent to sexual activity. Utah has a "Romeo and Juliet law", which allows teens aged 16 and 17 to consent to partners less than 7 years older, and partners between 7 and 10 years older if they had no reasonable knowledge of the minor's age. In this case it would still be considered statutory rape since the girlfriend is 14

Indiana

2024-10-28 02:20:08 UTC

This relationship would not be considered statutory rape in the state of Indiana. Indiana has Romeo and Juliet laws protecting underage couples participating in consensual sex. Since she is between the ages of 14-15 and he is under 18 they are protected by Romeo and Juliet laws.

Cierra Gordon

Iowa

2024-10-28 02:20:14 UTC

The Iowa Age of Consent is 16. Individuals aged 15 or younger in Iowa are not legally able to consent to sexual activity. Iowa has a "Romeo and Juliet law", which allows teens aged 14 and 15 to consent to partners less than 4 years older. Regardless of age, it is also illegal for a school employee to engage in sexual intercourse with a current student or even a student who attended school within 30 days of such a violation. In this case it would not be considered statutory rape.

Missouri

2024-10-28 02:31:53 UTC

This relationship would be considered statutory rape in the state of Missouri. The legal age of consent in Missouri is 17, meaning anyone under the age of 17 cannot legally consent to sexual activity. Missouri does not have Romeo and Juliet laws, so there is no close in age exemption.

Cierra Gordon

Hawaii

2024-10-28 02:36:44 UTC

In the state of Hawaii the legal age of consent is 16. This state has a close-age exemption, otherwise known as the Romeo and Juliet Law. These means children ages 14 & 15 are able to consent to someone less than 5 years older than them. Therefore, it would not be Statutory Rape.

Marina Fizzuoglio

Tennessee

2024-10-28 02:36:55 UTC

The Tennessee Age of Consent is 18 years old. Individuals aged 17 or younger are not legally able to consent to sexual activity. Tennessee has a "Romeo and Juliet law", which allows teens ages 13-18 to consent to partners less than 4 years older . In this case the relationship would not be considered statutory rape

Texas

2024-10-28 02:38:51 UTC

The legal age of consent in Texas is 17, and there is no close-age exemption. This means this situation would be considered Statutory Rape.

Marina Fizzuoglio

Utah

2024-10-28 02:42:07 UTC

In Utah the legal age of consent is 18. They do have a close-age exemption, where children could consent to people less than 7 years older than them, but it only applies to children ages 16-17. Therefore, this situation would be considered Statutory rape, as the 14-year-old can not consent.

Marina Fizzuoglio

Delaware City, DE

2025-10-13 23:21:14 UTC

Individuals aged 17 or younger in Delaware are not legally able to consent to sexual activity, and such activity may result in prosecution for statutory rape. There is no romeo and juliet law

Emma J

Kansas

2025-10-13 23:24:25 UTC

The Kansas Age of Consent is 16 years old. Individuals aged 15 or younger in Kansas are not legally able to consent to sexual activity, and such activity may result in prosecution for statutory rape. there is not Romeo and Juliet law

Emma j

South Carolina

2025-10-13 23:26:11 UTC

The South Carolina Age of Consent is 16 years old. Individuals aged 15 or younger in South Carolina are not legally able to consent to sexual activity, and such activity may result in prosecution for statutory rape. There is not exemption law.

Emma J

Oklahoma City, OK

amandagraceallen — 2025-10-15 02:10:39 UTC

The Oklahoma Age of Consent is 16 years old. In the United States, the age of consent is the minimum age at which an individual is considered legally old enough to consent to participation in sexual activity. Individuals aged 15 or younger in Oklahoma are not legally able to consent to sexual activity, and such activity may result in prosecution for statutory rape.

Amanda A

Mississippi

amandagraceallen — 2025-10-15 02:17:22 UTC

The Mississippi Age of Consent is 16 years old. In the United States, the age of consent is the minimum age at which an individual is considered legally old enough to consent to participation in sexual activity. Individuals aged 15 or younger in Mississippi are not legally able to consent to sexual activity, and such activity may result in prosecution for statutory rape.

Mississippi statutory rape law is violated when a person has consensual sexual intercourse with an individual under age 16 who is not their spouse. A close in age exemption exists when the age gap between the parties is less than 36 months.

New York, NY

amandagraceallen — 2025-10-15 02:30:17 UTC

The New York Age of Consent is 17 years old. In the United States, the age of consent is the minimum age at which an individual is considered legally old enough to consent to participation in sexual activity. Individuals aged 16 or younger in New York are not legally able to consent to sexual activity, and such activity may result in prosecution for statutory rape.

New York statutory rape law is violated when a person has consensual sexual intercourse with an individual under age under age 17, who they are not married to. Punishment varies depending on the age of the offender. There is no defense based around lack of knowledge of the victim's age.