Statutory Rape Laws and Who They Protect
January 11, 2008 by gayla
Filed under Relationships
When my twins were born, I always believed I’d be a mother who could protect them. With the recent news of Jamie Lynn Spears becoming pregnant and the rumors that claim Casey Aldridge may be guilty of statutory rape, I have to admit, I’m growing concerned over my own boys as they are growing nearer the age of 16 – the age I let them begin dating.
A little quick history:
My twins were born premature and were not ready to begin Kindergarten at the ‘average’ age so I chose to hold them out and send them to preschool instead. They began kindergarten the following year.
In first grade, I had one that was getting average grades, but struggled terribly to maintain that. I made the painful decision to hold him back a year.
Where does this leave us now?
I have one son who will turn 18 the Spring of his Junior year and the other his Sophomore year.
What happens when my sons want to date girls from their school? What happens, IF, like most teens, they make STUPID decisions and have sex with a girl who is in their class but is under age?
What are your thoughts on the statutory rape laws and who they protect? Do you think those laws are abused by angry parents wanting to get back at their daughters boyfriend, whom they hated from date one?
I am not a lawyer, but this issue has come up in our debate team (that includes a law student) and that it might be technically against the law, but virtually no judge leave the case open. Most states have a policy, if not a statuary law, where if the two individuals are within x many years (and if it was consensual, of course) that there was no wrong done. Within 2-3 years is pretty safe, and at 5 years it is probably the edge of what is acceptable – but of course, it varies state by state.
The purpose of the law is to discourage/punish Predators, not teenagers messing around. Sure, it may technically be illegal, but there are a number of laws out there like that were intended for one specific situation and were spelled out rather vaguely. It is also technically illegal in a few states to do anything but the missionary position, even when it is regarding a married heterosexual couple. So, take it as you will.
That’s very comforting to know. I will worry about this until my son graduates and is off to college I think.