A 15 year old dating a 17 year old can be a bit of a tricky situation. On its face, a two year age gap is minimal, and happens all the time. Dating is also not the issue. The issue comes into play when there is sexual intercourse involved, and what the age of consent is in the state where this is happening. In some states, the age of consent is 16. This means that the 17 year old would be committing a crime by engaging in an sexual activity with the 15 year old. Whether or not the 15 year old says they consent, because they have not reached the age of consent, statutory laws come into play. When a crime is statutory, the intent behind it does not matter -- it is a black and white, yes or no way to determine whether a crime was committed.
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Is it legal for a 17-year-old to date a 15-year-old?
Is it legal for a 17-year-old to date a 15-year-old, and are there any legal concerns if they engage in sexual activity?
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Sexual Assault
New Jersey
October 20, 2024
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