Quote:
Originally Posted by Man In Room 5
How does that law work anyway? Isn't 17 under age as well? What happens if both partners are under age? Is it still a crime, and who is the victim and who is the criminal? What about a 13 year old girl and a 15 or 14 year old boy? For that matter, what about me playing doctor with the neighborhood girls when we were all under 12? Surely, the authorities don't investigate every kid who gets caught playing doctor.
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Generally, in most states, the age of consent is 16. There are variables from state to state, but usually if one party is over the age of consent and the other party is at least 2 years younger and under the age of consent, there can be prosecution. THIS lays out the law by state as of 2003.
Universally, the law in the United States views someone who is 13 as being legally incapable of giving consent. That person is judged to not be able to assess the possible consequences of their actions. As such, it is the role of the state (and any other interested protectorate agencies - child protective services, the school system, etc.) to protect that child from being abused, regardless of the age of the protagonist. "Playing doctor" is not reason for the protective parties to abscond from their responsibility.
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