Does South Carolina have a Romeo and Juliet law?

Category: family and relationships parenting teens
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In South Carolina, there is a Romeo and Juliet exemption for consensual sex between a minor who is 14 or older and a defendant who is 18 years old or younger. However, sex with a minor younger than 14 is always a felony, no matter the age of the defendant.



Accordingly, can a 16 year old date a 18 year old in South Carolina?

In all 50 states, there are “age of consent” laws on the books, which refer to the age that someone can legally consent to sexual activity. Across the nation, the age of consent is either 16, 17, or 18. Here in South Carolina, the age of consent is 16-years-old.

Subsequently, question is, can a 16 year old date a 20 year old in SC? Yes, they can date, as 16 YO is the age of consent in S.C. You cannot, however, exchange intimate photos, as ubder age 18 you could both be charged with possession and distribution of child pornography. The 20 YO could also be charged

Also know, what is the age of consent in South Carolina?

16 years old

What states have a Romeo and Juliet law?

Different types of Romeo and Juliet Laws can be found in the following states:

  • Alabama.
  • Alaska.
  • Arizona.
  • Arkansas.
  • Colorado.
  • Connecticut.
  • Hawaii.
  • Iowa.

27 Related Question Answers Found

Is 17 a minor in SC?

In South Carolina, there is a Romeo and Juliet exemption for consensual sex between a minor who is 14 or older and a defendant who is 18 years old or younger. For example, a 15-year-old who engages in consensual sex with a 17-year-old cannot be charged with statutory rape.

What age is a minor in SC?

eighteen years old

What state has the lowest age of consent?

The Age of Consent is 18 in eleven states - California, New York, Florida, Oregon, Utah, Iowa, Arkansas, Tennessee, West Virginia, Vermont, and Delaware. The lowest state Age of Consent in the United States is 16.

Can you move out at 16 in SC?

A person who is at least 16 years old can marry in South Carolina with parental permission. South Carolina doesn't have an emancipation statute that delineates an emancipation process. However, it's possible to petition the juvenile court to get yourself legally emancipated.

Is a 17 year old a minor in SC?

As the law sits now, a 17-year-old is considered an adult. But starting July 1 they will be considered juveniles. A juvenile can still be charged as an adult if the crime carries a sentence of 10 years or more, however most 17-year-olds will now go through family court.

When did 18 become the age of consent?

By 1920, Anglo-American legislators had responded by increasing the age of consent to 16 years, and even as high as 18 years. While those ages were well beyond the normal age of menstruation, proponents justified them on scientific grounds that psychological maturity came later than physiological maturity.

Is sexting illegal in South Carolina?

South Carolina does not have a “sexting law.” But that doesn't mean that sending nude or sexually explicit photos on your phone won't land you in serious legal trouble under existing SC laws that can trap adults and teenagers.

Is the age of consent in Japan really 13?

Japan's federal laws put consent at 13, but prefectural laws vary and can raise consent up to 18 years old. In Thailand, the age is 15, but this seems to apply only to locals. In the sex trade, women must be 18 or older.

Can a 17 and 21 year old date?

Absolutely. There is no law that prevents the two of you from dating (as in going to the movies, walking in the park, etc). However, if what you're really asking is if it's legal for a 17 year old to have sex with a 21 year old the answer is “It depends”. It's entirely dependent on where you are located.

Why is 16 the age of consent?

The age of consent to any form of sexual activity is 16 for both men and women, so that any sexual activity between an adult and someone under 16 is a criminal offence. A range of specific offences protect children under 13, who cannot legally give their consent to any form of sexual activity.

What is the age of consent mean?

The age of consent is the age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to sexual acts. It has sometimes been used with other meanings, such as the age at which a person becomes competent to consent to marriage, but the meaning given above is the one now generally understood.

How do I become emancipated?

The most common way to be emancipated from your parents is to petition the court. To be emancipated, you'll need to be at least 14 to 16 years old, depending on your state, and be able to prove that being emancipated from your parents is in your best interest.

What is meant by consent?

Consent occurs when one person voluntarily agrees to the proposal or desires of another. Types of consent include implied consent, expressed consent, informed consent and unanimous consent. Consent as understood in specific contexts may differ from its everyday meaning.

Can you be 15 and date a 17 year old?

Thus, sexual relations between two 17-year-olds would be illegal, as would relations between a 17-year-old and a 25-year-old. Age differential. Thus, sexual relations between a 15-year-old and an 18-year-old would be legal, while the same relationship between a 15-year-old and a 21-year old would not.