Laws on dating a minor in arizona

Is it illegal to date a minor in Arizona?

Under Arizona law, it is not illegal to date someone who is under the age of 18. However, it becomes a legal issue when engaging in sexual intercourse, sexual contact, or oral sex, even if the activity is consensual. So, you have the right to date a minor, but you should absolutely refrain from any type of sexual conduct until the minor turns 18.

What happens if you are charged with age of consent in Arizona?

Criminal charges may be filed against the offending adult, and you may have to register as a sex offender. Age of consent laws refer to the legal age someone may consent to having sexual relations with another person. Arizona, like most states, imposes strict age of consent laws with serious criminal repercussions.

What happens if you date a minor and they are underage?

Such laws are there to punish adults who take sexual advantage of minors. If your date is below the legal age of consent, you could be charged with statutory rape, even if the sex is consensual. If underage dating involves sexual intercourse, state statutory rape laws apply.

Can I be charged with statutory rape if my date is minor?

If your date is below the legal age of consent, you could be charged with statutory rape, even if the sex is consensual. Statutory rape is sexual intercourse with a person who is younger than the statutory age of consent, as determined by state law.

Is it illegal to date under 18 in Arizona?

Under Arizona law, it is not illegal to date someone who is under the age of 18. However, it becomes a legal issue when engaging in sexual intercourse, sexual contact, or oral sex, even if the activity is consensual.

What happens if you date a minor under the age of consent?

Such laws are there to punish adults who take sexual advantage of minors. If your date is below the legal age of consent, you could be charged with statutory rape, even if the sex is consensual.

What is the legal age of consent in Arizona?

Age of sexual consent is the age at which a state says a person can agree to engage in sexual activity. Twenty-five states set the age of consent at 16 years, eight states set it at 17, and Arizona is one of seven states that set the legal age of consent at 18.

How old do you have to be to date a minor?

The rule states that if the age difference between the mutually consenting, minor partners is 24 months or less, and no one is 14 years or younger, and no one is 19 years old and not in high school, the sexual conduct is unlikely to warrant a charge by the county attorney.

Can you be charged for statutory rape if you are under 18?

Not in most states. Generally speaking, a person commits the crime of statutory rape when he or she is over a certain age and has sex with a person under a certain age (the statutory age of consent), even if the underage person consented to have sex.

How is statutory rape defined?

In general, a person commits statutory rape by having sexual intercourse with a person younger than a certain age—called the age of consent. Each state defines statutory rape differently, from the age of consent to any allowable defenses.

Is mistake of age a defense to statutory rape?

Historical view: Mistake of age was no defense. Until 1964, the rule throughout the U.S. was that a statutory rape defendant’s mistaken belief that the underage sex partner was over the age of consent was no defense to the charge.

Do not sell my personal information for statutory rape?

Do Not Sell My Personal Information In most states, a person can be convicted of statutory rape even if the person genuinely believed a sexual partner was above a certain age—called the age of consent. (More on age of consent below.)