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legal age of consent

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doug02346

Junior Member
Massachusetts

My son is 20. He wants to date a girl who is 17. Is she of the legal age of consent in Massachhusetts? Or is the age higher than that? We don't want him getting trouble because she is a minor (if she is). Thanks!
 


QWest123

Junior Member
The age of consent in Massachusetts is 16, as specified by Chapter 265, Section 23 of the General Laws of Massachusetts, which states:

"Whoever unlawfully has sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse, and abuses a child under sixteen years of age shall... be punished..." MGL 265-23
However, Chapter 272, Section 4 sets another age of consent at 18 when the "victim" be "of chaste life" and the perpetrator induces them.

"Whoever induces any person under 18 years of age of chaste life to have unlawful sexual intercourse shall be punished." MGL 272-4
 

mommyof4

Senior Member
We don't want him getting trouble because she is a minor (if she is). Thanks!
Whether she meets the age of consent or not has no bearing on whether or not she is a minor. At age 17, she IS a minor and no amount of sexual activity changes that fact.

Tell your son that he would be wise to have no romantic relationship with her until she reaches the age of 18. That will eliminate any legal problem that could arise.
 

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