AGE OF CONSENT CHART FOR THE U.S.

The following chart lists the unrestricted age of consent for each of the states. This means that at that age an individual can have sex with whomever they wish as long as that person is consenting and they are the same age or older. To have sex with someone under the age of consent is a strict liability crime (in most states) known as statutory rape. It is often referred to by other names such as sexual assault, sexual misconduct with a child, etc. In addition to the age of consent, the chart also indicates whether or not there is an age-gap provision for that state. Many states have age-gap provisions that legalize teen sexuality as long as they are within a certain age range. Other states have "affirmative defense" clauses. In all states, dating, hugging, holding hands and kissing are not illegal. In some states, fondling, groping through the clothes or other such things known as "3rd base" is illegal. If you are looking for further information or discussion forums on the subject, please visit Moral Outrage.

U.S. State	Age of Consent	Age Gap Provision*	Mistake of Age Defense**
Alabama	16	Yes	No
Alaska	16	Yes	Yes
Arizona	18	No	Yes
Arkansas	16	No	Yes
California	18	No	No
Colorado	17	Yes	No
Connecticut	16	Yes	No
D.C.	16	Yes	No
Delaware	18	Yes	No
Florida	18	Yes	No
Georgia	16	Yes	No
Hawaii	16	Yes	No
Idaho	18	Yes	No
Illinois	17	No	No
Indiana	16	No	Yes
Iowa	16	Yes	No
Kansas	16	No	No
Kentucky	16	Yes	Yes
Louisiana	17	Yes	No
Maine	16	Yes	Yes
Maryland	16	Yes	No
Massachusetts	16	No	No
Michigan	16	No	No
Minnesota	16	Yes	No
Mississippi	16	Yes	No
Missouri	17	No	Yes
Montana	16	Yes	Yes
Nebraska	17	No	No
Nevada	16	No	No
New Hampshire	16	Yes	No
New Jersey	16	Yes	No
New Mexico	17	Yes	No
New York	17	No	Yes
North Carolina	16	Yes	No
North Dakota	18	No	No
Ohio	16	No	No
Oklahoma	16	Yes	No
Oregon	18	Yes	No
Pennsylvania	16	Yes	Yes
Rhode Island	16	No	No
South Carolina	16	No	No
South Dakota	16	No	No
Tennessee	18	Yes	No
Texas	17	No	No
Utah	18	Yes	No
Vermont	16	Yes	No
Virginia	18	No	No
Washington	16	Yes	Yes
West Virginia	16	Yes	Yes
Wisconsin	18	No	No
Wyoming	18	Yes	Yes

* Note: Some states make an age gap less of a crime but still a crime; where this is the case we have also listed 'No'.
** Note: In the absence of an affirmative or negative, we have presumed the answer to be no. Also, some states only allow mistake of age above a certain age.

AGE OF CONSENT CHART FOR THE U.S. - 2009