Illegal dating ages in new york married dating sex

These close-in-age exemption laws, sometimes known as Romeo and Juliet laws, may reduce the severity of the offense from a felony to a misdemeanor; reduce the penalty to a fine, probation or community service; and eliminate the requirement that the convicted adult register as a sex offender. For example, in New Jersey, the age of consent is 16, but individuals who are 13 or older may legally engage in sexual activity if their partner is less than four years older than they are.

This applies even if the parties are in a long-term romantic relationship or the sex is consensual.

New York has fifteen statutory sexual abuse charges on the books which are used to prosecute age of consent and child abuse related crimes within the state.

One or more of these charges may be used to prosecute violations of the New York Age of Consent, as statutory rape or the New York equivalent of that charge.

This close-in-age exception exists because statutory rape laws are meant to prevent minors from being sexually exploited by adults.

It is not meant to punish individuals who are close in age for engaging in consensual, non-exploitative sexual conduct.