Washington dating age laws

Washington DC Child Sex Abuse Laws

In the United States , the age of consent is the legal age at which a person is considered mature enough to consent to sex. However, the actual age is set by individual state laws. Sexual relations with an individual under the state's mandated age of consent is deemed as statutory rape, since rape is generally defined as sex without the other's consent, and anyone under the age of consent does not have the ability to consent in the eyes of the law. This is true in some jurisdictions, even if both partners are themselves younger than the age of consent, and both parties could technically be prosecuted. Every U. One or more charges may be used to prosecute violations of a state's age of consent laws, such as statutory rape or the state's equivalent of that charge. The severity of the criminal charge e.

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Here are the basics:. Consent is defined as giving permission for something to happen, so sexual consent means distinctly agreeing to sexual relations. Age of consent refers to the age when an individual is deemed emotionally mature enough to legally give consent. There are no exceptions for when, for example, exceptionally mature and lucid year-olds give enthusiastic consent. In Washington State, the age of consent is For people under the age of 18, meaning or year-olds, their partner cannot be more than five years 60 months older than the minor. So, if a year-old has sex with a year-old, they can face legal repercussions.

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Posted on April 3, As long as the relationship is not sexual , it is generally not illegal merely to date a minor. If the relationship is sexual or involves any sexual contact, the ages of the parties will matter. So will where they live , as each state has. It is generally not illegal to be in a non-sexual relationship with a minor. There is no law forbidding going to the movies or out to dinner with a minor.

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Age of consent laws in Washington

In , Washington State set its age of consent at This is the minimum age, in this case 16, when an individual is deemed legally competent to give consent for participation in sexual activities. Each state has established their own age of consent, ranging from 16 to So, if a year-old has sex with a year-old, the year-old will not be prosecuted.

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