Citation

Kourany RF, Hill RY, Hollender MH. Bull. Am. Acad. Psychiatry Law 1986; 14(2): 171-176.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3730628

Abstract

In 1899 the age of sexual consent in some American jurisdictions was 9 years. It has ranged from 7 to 21 years and at present the range is from 11 to 18 years. The age selected seems to be an arbitrary matter, the product of legislative compromise. The age of sexual consent should not be so early that little protection is provided for a child. Conversely, it should not be so late that a man can be held for statutory rape when the "victim" is fully capable of informed consent and readily acquiesced to a proposal or even invited a sexual relationship.

Language: en