Can An 18-Year-Old Date A 17-Year-Old?

It is not against the law for an 18-year-old to “date” a 17-year-old.

The problem arises when the 18-year-old wants to participate in the physical components of a love relationship with the 17-year-old in a state where there is no exception for an adult and a juvenile of such close age.

Is It Illegal For An 18-Year-Old To Date A 17-Year-Old? 

It’s not against the law for a 17-year-old to date an 18-year-old. However, having intercourse with someone under the age of 18 may be prohibited and result in prosecution for statutory rape. However, there is an exemption known as the “Romeo and Juliet” defense, which can keep some perpetrators from facing criminal charges.

Read More: How To Make A Girl Obsessed With You

What Kind of Contact Between an 18-Year-Old and a 17-Year-Old Is Illegal?

As previously stated, the “dating” aspect of the relationship between someone 18 and someone 17 is not unlawful in and of itself.

Unless the 18-year-old is taking the 17-year-position old’s against the parents’ desires or is intruding on family property, there is little to worry about legally.

This implies that the two young people should have minimal reservations about going places together, eating supper, riding bikes, or being alone in the same environment.

When the 18-year-old and 17-year-old desire to participate in the intimate physical parts of the relationship, the 18-year-old is likely to find himself or herself alone.

In general, every state and territory in the United States has codified laws prohibiting intimate physical contact between someone under the age of 18 and someone above the age of 18.

The definition of intimate contact is also important, because most states go beyond the ultimate act of physical love and prohibit even minor sorts of personal contact, such as kissing or even touching someone’s behind, if the contact was intended to be intimate.

In fact, if the younger of the two sits on his lap, the older of the two may get into trouble.

It is critical for the 18-year-old to learn what “intimate physical contact” means where he or she lives.

In other cases, this may even prohibit mere kissing.

What Are The Penalties For Statutory Rape?

Having sex with a minor is a felony. This involves two minors having sexual relations. As a result, even if you are under the age of 18, you might be charged with statutory rape.

A minor violation is filed if the age gap between you and the alleged victim is less than three years. Statutory rape, on the other hand, is a more ambiguous violation.

The prosecutor may prosecute you with a misdemeanor or a crime if you are more than three years older than the alleged victim. The state charges you with felony statutory rape if you are 21 or older and the claimed victim is under the age of 16.

Misdemeanor statutory rape carries the following penalties:

• A $1,000 fine is possible.
• Summary probation (informal)
• Up to one year in prison

The following are the penalties for felony statutory rape:

• A $10,000 fine is possible.
• Probation
• A one-year to three-year prison term (four years if you are over 21 years old and the alleged victim is under 16 years old)

Even if the state accuses you with statutory rape, you are not guilty. There might be one or more statutory rape defenses that keep you out of jail.

What Are the Circumstances that Lead to Charges Being Filed Against the 18-year-old?

In many cases, charges are brought against the 18-year-old.

The first is that the 18-year-old did not have genuine consent from the 17-year-old, and the 17-year-old subsequently revealed the contents of the conversation.

If the contact was not voluntary, the Romeo and Juliet exception(s) are unlikely to apply.

The second scenario is that the 18-year-old breaks up with the 17-year-old, and the 17-year-old (disappointed and heartbroken) notifies her parents or friends, who then spread the word about the intimate connection.

Enraged parents report the information to the police, which leads to prosecution.

The third scenario is when the 18-year-old treats the younger individual casually (one night stand, ignores him/her after, etc.), generating a person who lies about the connection with malice as the purpose, to get back at the elder part of the pair.

Once again, outraged parents are reporting the facts to the police.

Sometimes information reaches instructors, who are required to report abuse/assault incidents.

Finally, if the cops find out, they will have the option of preparing a report, issuing tickets, or referring the case to a prosecutor, who will make charging judgments.

What If Your Parents Are Fine With it?

We are not aware of any circumstance in which parents can consent to their underage kid having intimate physical contact with an adult.

If the parents agree, and then communication between a juvenile and an adult is disclosed to authorities, the adult can still be charged, regardless of what the parents wish the prosecutor to do.

The prosecutor (and law enforcement) have the ability to make criminal charging choices, whereas private persons (such as parents) can give feedback but have no authority of their own.