Is 16 and17 considered a minor?

Question

I would like to know if 16 and 17 is still considered a minor.I know this
guy who is being charged for statutory rape and he was a minor himself.I think the laws should be changed to a certain extent with consenual sex.even though the girl is a minor she still wanted the sex.Alot of these girls go after these older boys and some of them try to get these guys into trouble.Im not saying the guy isnt wrong either because he is as well too.He is wrong for having sex with her and she is wrong for wanting to have sex with a older guy when she knows how old the guy is.she should not be having sex period.Also no offense but I have notice when a guy has sex with a underage black female he does not get much time but if he have sex with a white female he gets major time.Im not the only one who notice this because other people heard of this as well.I k now guys who went with underage girls who were black but did not get much time at all but with white females you have serve major time.

Answer 1

Well, there is a lot of opinion about this issue. Within the US there are varying standards, and in other countries even bigger differences of opinion. Something illegal in the US might well be legal in England or Holland.

I'd agree with you that there should be some changes, and some standardization of the law. One of the better approaches is to tie statutory rape to the age gap, rather than the age - so a 14 and a 16 year old would be OK, but a 14 and an 18 year old would not. Even then, the maturity of the couple should be taken into account.

Unfortunately, the majority of the US is still highly puritanical, and consider the entire subject of sex unclean. They have more hang ups about sex than any European nation. Americans have convinced themselves that the showing of a nipple on national TV is far more offensive than outright violence being shown. Breast feeding is considered so dirty that mothers have to hide in 'lactation stations' to perform this perfectly natural function. And archaic rules that allow men to walk topless on a beach prevent women from doing the same thing.

We are as a nation, prudish and sexually frustrated, leading to intolerance in our society. Hopefully that will change with time. You can start that change - petition politicians, talk about it at school or in your church groups, and consider getting involved in one of the main political parties. Young people are the ones who can over time make a difference in this country.

Answer 2

Generally anything under 18 is considered a minor. However, it's different with statutory rape cases. In that case it depends on the state. They use the "age of consent." The age of consent is the age that the state thinks a person is able to make a good, mature decision about sex.
I know in some states 16 is the age of consent. Thus if you are of or over the age of consent and you have sex with someone under 16, you have committed statutory rape. Also, some states have it so that if you are under the age of consent you can't have sex period, while others have different, sketchy laws about having sex with those of similar ages even if you're under the age of consent. It doesn't matter if the minor wanted sex, that's the whole point of the law: it's to protect those whom the state believes are not mature enough to make a good decision about sex.
And about the race issue, it's certainly not acceptable, but the system isn't perfect or fair in many aspects.

Here's a site that lists age of consents:
http://www.avert.org/aofconsent.htm
If you scroll down it will list the states.
And for the ones with more than one age, some states have laws that say something like the age of consent is 17, but 15 if you get parental permission/consent.

Answer 3

Under 18 is a minor, but if someone under 18 commits a crime they can be charged as an adult.

A guaranteed way to avoid the statutory rape issue is don’t have sex with minors (even if you're a minor yourself).

I have a teenage son and you better believe that I drill into him that even if sex is consensual it can still be illegal. I’m amazed that there are parents that don’t tell their children these things.

Answer 4

Statutory rape laws vary greatly by state. In some states, including yours it sounds like, anyone who has sex with anyone under a certain age is guilty of statuory rape, even if that person is also under age. Both actors can be charged with rape.

If you give more information on where this took place, I could give you better details.

Answer 5

The law on 15 to 17 is very unclear. Very few men in the US did not have sex as a teen with their teen girl friend. This can place the male in deep water if it is found out even if she is older.

This I know is very unfair. I do not think a 17 male should be branded for life for having sex with his 16yo girl friend, but some parents of females think it must be that way. May time it is the female that is chasing the male in to her bed.

Answer 6

These older boys need to have more self control and quit letting their hormones rule their roost. In certain cases 16 & 17 can be concidered an adult depending how violent the crime is.

Answer 7

He committed an adult crime against someone that was probably 3-4 years younger. He's hosed.

Answer 8

In the U.S. you are a minor if you are under the age of 18.

Answer 9

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!