The crime of rape (click here) generally refers to non-consensual sexual intercourse that is committed by physical force, threat of injury, or other duress.
Common law defined rape as unlawful intercourse by a man against a woman who is not his wife by force or threat and against her will. However, most states have refined and broadened the statutory definition of rape so that marriage, gender, and force are not relevant. The victim's lack of consent is the crucial element. A lack of consent can include the victim's inability, due to the effects of drugs or alcohol, to say "no."...
...The crime of statutory rape refers to sexual intercourse with a minor (someone below the age of consent). Minors who are below the age of consent cannot legally consent to having sex. This means that sex with them violates the law even if they signal their agreement.
Statutory rape laws vary by state, with states setting the age of consent differently. Many states punish statutory rape under laws addressing sexual assault, corruption of a minor, or carnal knowledge of a child. In more than half of the states, statutory rape is a felony only if one of the participants is at least several years older than the other; if the two people are extremely close in age, but one of them is underage, some states will not treat this as a crime or may treat it just as a misdemeanor. However, not all states have "close-in-age" laws....
The crime of rape (click here) is one of the most serious crimes in the books, and states universally punish this sex offense very harshly. However, there exist numerous variations between rape laws amongst the states. Please choose a state from the map or the list below for state-specific definitions and statutes for, including in depth overviews of select states' offenses, penalties, and more
