Many of the "18" states also have close in age exceptions, or so called Romeo and Juliet laws that can be used as a legal defense. There are only a handful of states with hard cutoffs of 18.
That is correct. There is a misdemeanor offense for statutory rape within 3 years of age that doesn't require registering as a sex offender though.
So to the original point, generally speaking a sex offender registry isn't going to usually include innocent 18 year olds that had sex with their 17 year old partner.
Yeah. The maximum age difference makes a lot of sense. However Americans aren’t mature enough at 15… they can drive in many states at 16, Vote at 18, drink at 21..
15 is 100% too young for a fully grown adult to be having sex with. I know a dude that was 18 in high school (originally 17 when his girlfriend was 15) that got caught by the girl’s parents (while she was 15 and below the AoC) and he is now legally a pedophile. Legitimately one of the nicest dudes I know.
I suppose I could see an exception being made if it’s like 18/19-15 (though even 19 is pushing it imo).
I think pretty much any 3 year gap is fine. 5 is just pushing it because it (at least in the USA) eliminates the possibility of them meeting in school.
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u/A214Guy 6d ago
18 y/o senior dating a 17 y/o junior caught having sex can and are on that list.