The chart below consolidates published ages of consent for the various states. The age of consent varies by state and ranges from 16 to 18. What is the Age of Consent across the United States?
Sexual Assault of a Child Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Indecency by Exposure and Indecency by Contact Continuous Sexual Assault of a Child Online Solicitation of a MinorĪs we will explain in detail below, something that is not widely understood, even by attorneys, is the Romeo-Juliet statute depends on the offense charged. The age of consent commonly comes up in allegations involving the following offenses: Keep in mind, however, children under 14 can never legally consent to sexual conduct. In these cases, a sex crime charge could be reduced or even dismissed. In Texas, there is something referred to as the “Romeo-Juliet” law, which may protect young adults or teenagers within three years of age who are both over the age of 14 and willingly have sexual relations. In Texas, once a person has turned 17, the law presumes they are able to give consent. This is sometimes called the statutory rape statute because an individual who is under the age of 17 is legally incapable of giving consent. Therefore, under Texas law, with some exceptions, it is illegal to have sex with a person under the age of 17.
#Age of consent texas code
Similarly, Penal Code 21.11 prohibits sexual conduct with a child younger than the age of 17. Instead, you must examine the laws prohibiting sexual activity with a minor.įor example, Penal Code Section 22.011, which defines sexual assault of a child, defines a child as anyone under the age of 17. Interestingly, if you were to search the Penal Code for “legal age of consent” in Texas, you would not find it. In Texas, the age of consent is 17, which means if an adult engages in any form of sexual activity with a child under 17, it is considered statutory rape – even if the younger individual agreed to the sexual activity or lied about their age. If you have been accused of a child sex crime, you must talk to an experienced attorney who is skilled in handling these types of cases as soon as possible. That’s why it’s extremely important to understand state and federal age of consent laws.
#Age of consent texas registration
The accusation – which may be nothing more than a statement – could lead to the loss of freedom, parental rights, housing, and employment.Ī conviction for this type of offense can result in a prison sentence that is decades long and a lifetime of registration as a sex offender. Age of consent laws do not provide exceptions for either of these situations.Īny sex allegation involving a child can bring your life to a screeching halt. There is, however, a growing problem that the law does not account for – minors who misrepresent their age or even lie about it. These laws acknowledge that young people may not possess the necessary maturity, experience, or understanding to make an informed decision about engaging in sexual activity. Why do we have age of consent laws?Īt their core, age of consent laws are designed to protect minors from sexual exploitation. Surprisingly, certain affirmative defenses in Texas where the age of consent is an issue, like the Romeo-Juliet statutes or provisions, differ based on the nature of the alleged offense. Similarly, you’ll often run into sources that give a partial answer. Some exceptions apply to the age of consent. Many people look up the age of consent for a particular state, forgetting that age of consent rules also apply at the federal level. It’s important to understand that age varies from state to state and under federal law. The age of consent is the age at which a person may legally consent to sexual activity.
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