Talk:Age of consent in the United States

Washington

The table gives 21 as the unrestricted age of consent, but this is contradicted elsewhere in the article. Chemical Engineer (talk) 16:59, 9 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

This contradiction still exists as of November 2024. I'm a passerby (i.e., not even vaguely versed in how to edit Wikipedia), but the discrepancy is explicit. How can this be fixed? 98.232.105.86 (talk) 20:58, 6 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Chemical Engineer 109.126.189.182 (talk) 23:01, 28 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Washington: non-procute part

Washington: non-prosecute part

There's an updated version of the Delaware code for 2024 (as it pertains to the age of consent) starting here.

It seems to have some potentially confusing aspects, and hence raises some doubts as to whether this meets the criteria for inclusion in WP. Fabrickator (talk) 10:35, 9 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

According to section 768, it would appear that anyone who has intentional sexual contact with a person under age 18 is guilty of unlawful sexual contact in the second degree. If there are other authoritative sources that conflict with this, we may have a conundrum, because this seems to be quite plain on its face. Fabrickator (talk) 02:17, 1 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Never mind. Fabrickator (talk) 02:18, 3 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]

What's wrong with sticky table headers?

It is rare for people to dislike sticky headers after I add them to a table. This is the article with the sticky table headers:

BRMYX23 removed the sticky table headers. BRMYX23 is a very new editor (May 27, 2025 first edit under that name). They have also been warned about possible edit warring. They also removed the sticky table headers from here:

On that article BRMYX23 called my edits vandalism which is a personal attack. See WP:NPA.

Can someone else return the sticky tables? Then there is more than one person who wants them, and my time has not been wasted. @Jroberson108: can you have a look at the sticky version, and tell me what you think since you (like me) are an expert on sticky tables on Wikipedia. --Timeshifter (talk) 21:50, 26 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Timeshifter and BRMYX23: I suggest only discussing the article's content here.
Reviewing the "Summary" table. It is tall with three columns next to each other with very similar age data. In my opinion, this can easily be mixed up when column headers are no longer visible.
I don't think Template:Sticky table start is needed, instead use Template:Sticky header because it isn't "very" wide, the text wraps, and most aren't going to read the "ref" column. Sticky column headers will help with not having to scroll back and forth to re-read column headers, especially on mobile.
Also, sorting on the ref column can be removed as it serves no purpose. Finally, the caption might be better rephrased as "Ages of consent in the United States" or "United States ages of consent".
I suggest reaching a consensus (WP:CON). Jroberson108 (talk) 08:22, 27 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Hi
I had been offline for the past couple of days - However in response to the points listed, yes the sticky tables had been removed as they make the information on the summary tables harder to access than they had been previously - requiring scrolling through and along to the sides, hiding large chunks of information which are the core purpose / pieces of information of the page - A page which has existed for decades within the formats that it had been previously, until you came along and made large changes to the page - in the decades this page had existed at no point had objections been raised to the format and it was the format which was agreed upon for displaying the page by those who created the page originally and by all those who had edited on it -
the information on the original format indeed fixed, therefore and easy to view - Your changes make information harder to find and the page more complicated, unnecessarily and it goes against the agreed upon format for the page - and this edit was made without gathering information from others - Simply put you massively re-formatted the page on your own convictions in such a manner that hides information, and this was the reason for removal - the layout of information was agreed upon originally by the page creators your edit goes against that and hides / makes information harder to find - These were therefore the grounds for removal BRMYX23 (talk) 17:20, 27 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]
(Or more accurately to revert back to the original format, agreed upon on the creation of the page - things have not altered on the topic enough between the page creation and now to justify an update to the way information is formatted, keeping it clear and there rather than making huge changes keeps in line with the intended format of when the page was developed) BRMYX23 (talk) 17:23, 27 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@BRMYX23: Here below is the US table in the sticky table format suggested by Jroberson108: {{sticky header}}. Instead of the more compact sticky table format I used: {{sticky table start}}. Scroll down and you will see that the headers follow you down the page making it much easier to know what column a number applies to. I prefer {{sticky table start}} since it makes tables more viewable in portrait view in smaller cell phones. By making the left column sticky too.

  1. ^ "Code Of Alabama". alisondb.legislature.state.al.us. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  2. ^ "Sec. 11.41.436. Sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree. – The Alaska Legal Resource Center". www.touchngo.com. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  3. ^ "Sec. 11.41.438. Sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree. – The Alaska Legal Resource Center". www.touchngo.com. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  4. ^ "Chapter 36 - Sexual Offenses". American Samoa Bar Association.
  5. ^ "13-1405. Sexual conduct with a minor; classification". www.azleg.gov. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  6. ^ "13-1407. Defenses". www.azleg.gov. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  7. ^ "13-1401. Definitions; factors". www.azleg.gov. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  8. ^ "2010 Arkansas Code : : Title 5 - Criminal Offenses : : Subtitle 2 - Offenses Against The Person : : Chapter 14 - Sexual Offenses : : Subchapter 1 - General Provisions : : § 5-14-103 - Rape". Justia Law. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  9. ^ "Chapter 1. Rape, Abduction, Carnal Abuse of Children, and Seduction [261 - 269]". California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  10. ^ "Chapter 5. Bigamy, Incest, and the Crime Against Nature [286]". California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  11. ^ "Chapter 5. Bigamy, Incest, and the Crime Against Nature [288]". California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  12. ^ "2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 46b-120. (Formerly Sec. 51-301). Definitions". Justia Law. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  13. ^ "2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 46b-127. (Formerly Sec. 51-308). Transfer of child charged with a felony to the regular criminal docket". Justia Law. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  14. ^ "2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 46b-133d. Serious sexual offender prosecution. Sentencing". Justia Law. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  15. ^ "2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 53a-70. Sexual assault in the first degree: Class B or A felony". Justia Law. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  16. ^ "2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 53a-71. Sexual assault in the second degree: Class C or B felony". Justia Law. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  17. ^ "TITLE 11 - CHAPTER 5. Specific Offenses - Subchapter II. Offenses Against the Person". delcode.delaware.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  18. ^ "Statutory Rape: A Guide to State Laws and Reporting Requirements." United States Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved on November 4, 2014. "Florida[ ... ]A child under 16 years of age cannot consent to sexual activity, regardless of the age of the defendant.[189] A child who is at least 16 years of age and less than 18 years of age cannot consent to sexual activity if the defendant is 24 years of age or older." and "Pennsylvania[ ... ]Sexual intercourse with someone less than 13 years of age is illegal regardless of the age of the defendant.[641] Sexual intercourse with someone at least 13 years of age and less than 16 years of age is illegal unless the defendant is less than four years older than the victim or is the victim's spouse."
  19. ^ "Flsenate Archive: Statutes & Constitution > View Statutes". archive.flsenate.gov. Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  20. ^ "Fla. Stat. 943.04354.
  21. ^ "§ 16-6-3 – Statutory rape: : 2010 Georgia Code". Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  22. ^ "§ 16-6-2 – Sodomy; aggravated sodomy; medical expenses: : 2010 Georgia Code". Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  23. ^ "House Bill". www.capitol.hawaii.gov.
  24. ^ "Report of the Age of Consent Task Force" (Archive). State of Hawaii Department of the Attorney General. Retrieved on November 4, 2014. p. i (PDF p. 6/79). Submitted to The Twenty-Second State Legislature Regular Session of 2003 Pursuant to Act 1, Second Special Session, SLH 2001.
  25. ^ "Idaho Statutes – 18-6101". Archived from the original on July 30, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  26. ^ "Idaho Statutes – 18-1508". Archived from the original on July 31, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  27. ^ "Idaho Statutes – 18-1508A". Archived from the original on July 31, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  28. ^ "Idaho Statutes – 18-1506". Archived from the original on July 31, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  29. ^ Criminal Sexual Assault (720 ILCS 5/11-1.20)
  30. ^ Criminal sexual abuse (720 ILCS 5/11-1.50)
  31. ^ Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault (720 ILCS 5/11-1.30)
  32. ^ Predatory criminal sexual assault of a child (720 ILCS 5/11-1.40)
  33. ^ Aggravated criminal sexual abuse (720 ILCS 5/11-1.60)
  34. ^ 750 ILCS 5/203 and 750 ILCS 5/208
  35. ^ "Indiana Code 35-42-4". p. 438. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  36. ^ "Indiana Code 35-42-4". In.gov. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  37. ^ "Kansas Statutes 21-5503, 21-5504, 21-5506 and 21-5507". 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  38. ^ Latek, Tom (January 19, 2018). "Age of consent change considered for some circumstances". Kentucky Today. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  39. ^ "2012 Louisiana Laws, Revised Statutes, TITLE 14 — Criminal law, RS 14: 80 — Felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile". Law.justia.com. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  40. ^ Sexual offense in the third degree. Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 3-307.
  41. ^ Sexual offense in the second degree. Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 3-306.
  42. ^ Rape in the second degree. Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 3-304.
  43. ^ Sexual solicitation of minor. Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 3-324.
  44. ^ "General Laws". malegislature.gov.
  45. ^ "Michigan Legislature - Section 750.520d". www.legislature.mi.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  46. ^ Gordon, Claire. "Lawmakers Move To Bar Teachers From Having Sex With Students". AOL News. March 27, 2013. Retrieved on August 8, 2013.
  47. ^ Murray, Dave. "Teachers prohibited from having sex with students of any age under bill approved by Michigan Senate". MLive. March 20, 2012. Retrieved on August 8, 2013.
  48. ^ "Sec. 609.341 MN Statutes". www.revisor.mn.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  49. ^ "Sec. 609.342 MN Statutes". www.revisor.mn.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  50. ^ "Sec. 609.343 MN Statutes". www.revisor.mn.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  51. ^ "Sec. 609.344 MN Statutes". www.revisor.mn.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  52. ^ "Sec. 609.345 MN Statutes". www.revisor.mn.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  53. ^ "Sec. 609.3451 MN Statutes". www.revisor.mn.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  54. ^ "§ 97-3-65. Statutory rape; enhanced penalty for forcible sexual intercourse or statutory rape by administering certain substances". LexisNexis.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  55. ^ Cite error: The named reference montana_2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  56. ^ "Nebraska Legislature". nebraskalegislature.gov.
  57. ^ "Statutory Rape: A Guide to State Laws and Reporting Requirements. Summary of Current State Laws.". U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, December 15, 2014. Retrieved on May 15, 2016. "A common misperception about statutory rape is that state codes define a single age at which an individual can legally consent to sex. Only 12 states have a single age of consent, below which an individual cannot consent to sexual intercourse under any circumstances, and above which it is legal to engage in sexual intercourse with another person above the age of consent. For example, in Massachusetts, the age of consent is 16. In the remaining 39 states, other factors come into play: age differentials, minimum age of the victim, and minimum age of the defendant. Each is described below." - The mathematics does not add up in this section as there are 50 states, unless DC is counted as #51.
  58. ^ "Chapter 28 Section 805". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  59. ^ "Section 632-A: 3 Felonious Sexual Assault". www.gencourt.state.nh.us. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  60. ^ "Section 632-A: 2 Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault". www.gencourt.state.nh.us. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  61. ^ "Section 632-A: 4 Sexual Assault". www.gencourt.state.nh.us. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  62. ^ "2006 New Mexico Statutes - Section 30-9-11 — Criminal sexual penetration". Justia Law. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  63. ^ "2006 New Mexico Statutes – Section 30-9-11 — Criminal sexual penetration". Law.justia.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  64. ^ "New York Consolidated Laws, Penal Law - PEN". Findlaw. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  65. ^ "General Statute Chapters - North Carolina General Assembly". www.ncleg.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  66. ^ "Ohio Age of Consent/Statutory Rape Fact Sheet" (PDF). Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. September 18, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  67. ^ "Lawriter - ORC - 2907.04 Unlawful sexual conduct with minor". codes.ohio.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  68. ^ "Lawriter - ORC - 2907.03 Sexual battery". codes.ohio.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  69. ^ "Oklahoma Statutes § 21-1111. Rape defined" (PDF). Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  70. ^ "Oklahoma Statutes § 21-1112. Age limitation on conviction for rape". Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  71. ^ Boyer, Barbara. "Chester sex case points up questions A high school administrator has been charged with two misdemeanors. Experts say the issues are not clear-cut." (Archive). The Philadelphia Inquirer. April 9, 2005. Retrieved on August 4, 2015. "Wilson's arrest highlights confusing questions about sexual relations between youths who are of the age of legal consent at 16 and adults. Sex with a minor younger than 16 is considered statutory rape." and "In Pennsylvania, prosecutors turn to broader laws, such as corrupting the morals of a minor, that are not as clearly defined." and "JoAnne Epps, dean of academic affairs at Temple University's Beasley School of Law, said that even though a teenager can legally consent to sex[ ... ]"[ ... ]but that's irrelevant in determining whether a person is guilty of corrupting the morals of a minor.""
  72. ^ Smerconish, Michael. "The Pulse: Coming forward on abuse helps the community" (Archive). The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 5, 2011. "There are no statutory-rape charges pending as the age of consent in the commonwealth is 16."
  73. ^ Anastasia, George. "D.A. to fight ruling on Rinick sex tape A judge said reporters were entitled to view it. Prosecutors said four women's privacy rights must be protected." (Archive). The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 5, 2011. Retrieved on August 6, 2015. "Rinick's lawyer in that case, Nino Tinari, said yesterday that the charges were downgraded to corrupting the morals of minors after Rinick produced videotapes that indicated the girls took part in consensual sex. (The age of consent in Pennsylvania for sex is 16.)"
  74. ^ Finley, Ben. "Corbett signs law targeting predatory youth coaches" (Archive). The Philadelphia Inquirer. June 20, 2014. Retrieved on September 15, 2015.
  75. ^ Martin, John P. (January 5, 2011). "Lower Merion High teacher suspended in student-romance allegation". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2018. Pennsylvania law sets the age of consent for sex at 16, although prosecutors in some counties have brought child endangerment and corruption-of-minors charges against teachers who have had relationships with 16- and 17-year-old students.
  76. ^ Cite error: The named reference puerto_rico was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  77. ^ "Statutory Rape Law in RI". RH Humphrey Law Offices. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  78. ^ "Rhode Island Rape and Sexual Assault Laws - FindLaw.com". Findlaw.
  79. ^ "Title 11: Criminal Offenses: Chapter 37: Sexual Assault (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-6)". Rhode Island Legislature. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  80. ^ "Title 11: Criminal Offenses: Chapter 37: Sexual Assault (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-8.1)". Rhode Island Legislature. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  81. ^ "LexisNexis Custom Solution: Tennessee Code Research Tool". lexisnexis.com.
  82. ^ "Sexual Performance by a Child". Mary E. Conn & Associates. 2020. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2022. Although the title of the law specifically refers to performances, the detailed language of the law clearly criminalizes sexual conduct itself, regardless of whether that is related to ... a performance.
  83. ^ "Sexual Performance by a Child". Saputo Law. 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2021. The Texas crime of Sexual Performance by a Child makes it illegal to allow or encourage a child ... [to] engage in "sexual conduct.
  84. ^ "Appellant's Brief, Texas Department of Public Safety v. Garcia, 2010 WL 1366961, at 8 (Tex. Ct. App. filed Feb. 1, 2010)". "Under Texas law, a person commits the offense of Sexual Performance by a Child [...] Like the *8 Oregon statute, this Texas statute identifies the age of consent as 18."
  85. ^ Ex parte Fujisaka, 472 S.W.3d 792, 800, 801 (Tex. Ct. App. 2015). "The court concluded that "although an adult's consensual sexual contact with a seventeen-year-old cannot be prosecuted as indecency with a child, the teenager's consent to sex does not de-criminalize the adult's conduct under section 43.25(b) [proscribing conduct involving a person under eighteen years of age] because the adult's conduct is a crime against the public, not against the teenager." "
  86. ^ "2019 US Virgin Islands Code §1708 Unlawful sexual contact in the first degree". Justia. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  87. ^ "2019 US Virgin Islands Code §1709 Unlawful sexual contact in the second degree". Justia. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  88. ^ "Utah State Legislature". utah.gov. 76-5-401.2 Unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- or 17-year-old
  89. ^ "The Vermont Statutes Online". Leg.state.vt.us. May 26, 2006. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  90. ^ Schulte, Brigide. "An Age-Old Cultural Divide". The Washington Post. Sunday March 20, 2005. Page LZ21.(Archive). "In Virginia, the age of consent is 18."
  91. ^ Sheppard, Kate. "More on Cuccinelli's Defense of Virginia's Anti-Sodomy Law" (Archive). Mother Jones. Thursday April 4, 2013. Retrieved on September 17, 2015. "While that might be seen as creepy, in Virginia, the age of consent is 15 years old."
  92. ^ Chandler, Michael Alison. "Laws on child sex abuse in schools". The Washington Post. July 24, 2010. Retrieved on September 17, 2015.
  93. ^ "RCW 9A.44.096: Sexual misconduct with a minor in the second degree". apps.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  94. ^ Clark-Flory, Tracy. "Student-teacher sex: When is it OK?". Salon. November 20, 2010. Retrieved on December 25, 2013.
  95. ^ "RCW 9A.44.010: Definitions". apps.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  96. ^ "Chapter 30. Sexual Abuse". Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  97. ^ "West Virginia Code". Legis.state.wv.us. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  98. ^ "Wisconsin Legislature: Subch. III of ch. 944 Title". Docs.legis.wisconsin.gov. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  99. ^ "Wisconsin Legislature: 948.02". Docs.legis.wisconsin.gov. August 1, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  100. ^ "Wisconsin Legislature: 948.02". Docs.legis.wisconsin.gov. August 1, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.

--Timeshifter (talk) 18:23, 27 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

This table as I am presented with it seems fine - As long as the physical information (the states and laws themselves aren’t hidden and are locked / fixed in place) - I have no accessibility issues on my end - I could see some finding issue with the header following them down (I don’t know if there’s a way of making this optional for users?) but I am generally speaking fine with this version of the table and am happy to agree on it BRMYX23 (talk) 03:39, 28 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Michigan, 26 age of consent? Need source.

Does anyone have a source for this? The source attached states that it bans any age from someone in position of authority, not just up to 26. HeavyGoat1491 (talk) 17:22, 1 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@HeavyGoat1491: The explanation that was provided with the edit states:

Michigan has no unrestricted age. Literally stated in this article itself: "In March 2012 the Michigan Senate passed a bill which was to prohibit sexual relations between students of any age and teachers."

I am not an advocate of trying to convey the age of consent in the form of a table. (As to the age of 26, perhaps that's supposed to represent the upper limit for the age of a student... though a couple of states have a dash in this column.) Once upon a time, the bulk of the states simply had a single age of consent, but now, each state has its own idiosyncrasies, and the table presentation really hides more than it reveals. Fabrickator (talk) 19:15, 1 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]
That was my edit, I'm talking about Hamon669's edit that changed it from N/A to 26. Thing is, I see it being banned regardless of age no matter what, not just up to 26. Therefore I don't see how 26 comes in.
Sure I ain't a fan of a table either, there are nuances. But it is the most easily interpretable format. Of course, being easily interpretable must also mean people can derive their perception of truth reasonably from it. HeavyGoat1491 (talk) 20:56, 1 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@HeavyGoat1491
I interpreted the "unrestricted" age of consent to mean the age at which a person may consent without any age-difference, restrictions authority, or restrictions special-vulnerability protections. So things like authority restrictions (teacher, counselor, etc.) apply to the actor, not the “unrestricted age”
This is not the only issue with the ages in this table and I will try to fix them all tomorrow.
@Hamon669 as you are the person who originally put the 26 in, I think this might be relevant for you. WashedFootballer (talk) 08:44, 3 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, I get that. But of what I've read, it is never so in Michigan. No matter age, these protections seem to be in place. HeavyGoat1491 (talk) 10:52, 3 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Oh, didn't see you weren't Hamon669. Whoops. HeavyGoat1491 (talk) 10:53, 3 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]
750.520d (f) is the section that lists 26 as the age limit that a special ed teacher can have sex with a student. Also, that bill that would have gotten rid of the age limit for teachers was just that, a bill, which only passed the Senate but not the house. Hamon669 (talk) 12:18, 3 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]