# age of consent **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 7, 2002, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-of-consent/112905 "2002-06-07T23:09:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-of-consent/112905/21 "2002-06-10T20:17:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Heretic Jones \* > \*\* > > So it would stand to reason that in all states there’s a “within 3 years” sort of Quid Pro Quo goin on when it comes to AoC laws. > \*\* It doesn’t work like this – each state legislature has the power to set its own age of consent, and they vary wildly. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-of-consent/112905/22 "2002-06-10T23:15:09Z")
“I still haven’t found a legal cite for a law making it illegal for, e.g., a 25-year-old to have sex with a 15-year-old who he’s never met before.” Take a look at USA laws as they pertain to an American having sex outside of the USA with a women younger than 18… ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-of-consent/112905/23 "2002-06-10T23:30:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*“Geez guys - the age of consent here in Alberta is 14!” > > Is that for straight or gay sex?\*\* Both. (It’s 14 across Canada.) The entire rule is that you have to be 18 for anal sex, getting your nekkid picture taken, or making it with a person in a position of authority; otherwise, it’s 14. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-of-consent/112905/26 "2016-05-24T18:24:39Z")
> [@Heretic\_Jones](#): > > I think you’re pretty close with this. In all the cases that I’ve seen, the age of consent thing stipulates that between the ages of 16 and 17, the partner must be between the ages of 16 and 19 or 17 and 20, respectively. > > \ > > So it would stand to reason that in all states there’s a “within 3 years” sort of Quid Pro Quo goin on when it comes to AoC laws. These are called colloquially called [Romeo and Juliet Laws.](http://criminal-law.freeadvice.com/criminal-law/violent_crimes/romeo-and-juliet-law.htm) Important to note they can vary, and vary widely, from state-to-state. Do not make any assumptions about those things (for instance I think in Florida underage sex is still a crime but the Romeo and Juliet law there makes it possible to avoid having to register as a sex offender). If for some reason you think you may have sexual relations with someone under the age of 18 it’d be prudent to very carefully check the local laws. Also note some states exclude homosexual sex from Romeo and Juliet laws (see [State v. Limon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_v._Limon) as an example). I doubt those would hold up anymore but you may find yourself in jail for a few years while they sort it out (as was the case in Limon…eventually he was exonerated but he spent over 5 years in jail waiting for it). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-of-consent/112905/27 "2016-05-24T18:37:34Z")
Since this is an old thread that was raised by a spammer, I’m closing it. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-of-consent/112905.md?page=1)