Can It Be Statutory Rape If It Involves a Person of The Same Sex?

Statutory rape charges are some of the most serious sex offense allegations levied in New Jersey and elsewhere around the country. Anyone who has been accused of statutory rape must take the situation as seriously as possible.

In the state of New Jersey, the age of consent is 16 years old. This age of consent refers to the youngest age at which a person is classified as legally old enough to make a decision about participating in any sexual activity. In New Jersey, an individual who is aged 15 or younger is not legally eligible to give consent to any sexual activity and this activity could lead to prosecution for charges of statutory rape.

Statutory rape laws in New Jersey are broken if a person has consensual intercourse with someone underage. There is a close-in-age exemption that allows minors between the ages of 13 and 15 to be involved in sexual activities of the partner up to four years older. This close-in-age exemption is also referred to as the Romeo and Juliet law. In a general sense, these statutory rape laws in most states, including New Jersey, will apply to same sex situation.

It can be very overwhelming to realize that you have been accused of violating the laws in New Jersey especially since this could have a major impact on your future if you are forced to register as a sex offender.

Taking this situation seriously and retaining an experienced criminal defense attorney who has years of a background gathering appropriate evidence and helping to avoid the criminal consequences of conviction could have a significant impact on your life. It should always be taken seriously when you are facing these kinds of allegations to retain an attorney who cares about you and your future. Hire a NJ lawyer with experience.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney/client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.