Straatutory Rape Research Paper

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Jaylee Kelley
Enix
Per. 3
Research Paper
30 March 2015 Statutory Rape
Statutory rape is different from other forms of rape. Rape, is the unwilling act of one person having intercourse with an unwilling person. Statutory rape is a willing act of sexual intercourse but with an underage person. But, according to law, if they are underage, they cannot legally give consent. But if the act of underage sex is unwilling and forced laws with place this type of rape under child molestation, or aggravated rape
(Statutory Rape­Findlaw). To be placed on this list it depends on age. Which varies in states. Some states legal age is 15, some 16, some above (Statutory Rape­Findlaw). It all depends on the state and their own thoughts on consent of sex, and when they think
Some states add, besides just a age, and range that the kids can be in. (Statutory Rape/Legal Information) Some states have what is called “Romeo and Juliet” laws. This law limits exception to situations where two people engage in sexual activity that are of the opposite sex. But does not include people of the same sex (Statutory Rape/Legal information). Now being convicted of this charge is another ball game. This charge will place you the sex offenders list. Which, by

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one stupid mistake, that was in the persons mind was ok due to consent, can change your world around (Statutory Rape/Legal information).
A person convicted of statutory rape, in most states, has to register as a sex offender. Most people believe that required registration is only for those convicted of rape, or child molestation. But those people would be wrong. Even though in most cases of statutory rape, well actually all because anything different will be tried as something else, the younger of the two different genders that are doing the sexual act gives consent, the law and the government still sees it as rape, of a child, and will charge them with that. Being a registered sex offender affects a lot of things that
It affects where they live, where they work, where they go to school, also they have to take time out of their day and go check in with a officer. Their name is placed on a national list that is open to the public to view. And their names will never be taken off that list (Statutory Rape/Legal information). Now think about it. Being 18, “falling in love” with a younger girl, and bam, you get caught, and your life is changed for ever. Now, like stated before, some states view it differently than others. But here I’m just going to talk about Arkansas and their thoughts on this subject. Statutory rape in Arkansas is tired under Arkansas’s own rape and sexual assault laws. To be considered statutory rape in Arkansas it has to be any form of sexual intercourse between, what is considered a minor (13­) and with someone that is 3 years or older than that minor (Statutory Rape/Legal information). Arkansas has a way to kind of “get out of” statutory rape. They call it a “marital exemption”. This allows married

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people to have consensual sex even when if they weren’t married their age would not permit it (Statutory Rape/Legal information). That ends the laws surrounding