People under 16 are allowed to voluntarily have sexual contact with each other, as long as the following conditions are met:. The law says that a or year-old can consent to sexual activities.
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But it is still a crime to take part in sexual activities with a or year-old if these elements are proved:. The law always takes into account consent for people 18 years old or older. So, a person accused of a crime can raise as a defence the fact that his or her adult partner consented to the sexual activities. This article explains in a general way the law that applies in Quebec. This article is not a legal opinion or legal advice.
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Age of Consent to Sexual Activities
Consent to sex There is no law that specifies what age you have to be to have sex; however, criminal law determines when a person can be charged with a crime for having sexual contact with a minor. It is against the law to: Have sex or sexual contact with anyone under the age of People age 12 or under cannot agree to have sex.
Even when a person 12 or under says he or she agrees to have sex, the person he or she agrees to have sex with can be charged with a crime.
To force or pressure someone who is 13 to 17 or to force or pressure someone of any age to have sex. It is probably wise to have the parents of the young man and the young woman aware of the relationship and in approval of it.
Statutory Rape: The Age of Consent | LegalMatch Law Library
More shocking is the potential for the year-old, once the relationship ends, to contact the police and, emotionally claim that she was forcibly raped by the year-old, perhaps multiple times. After all, her consent is irrelevant. Her tears and the details of her claim help her credibility. Worse yet, the year-old may serve time in county jail or state prison, where sex offenders are treated with special contempt and often violence by other inmates. It can be a very dangerous place for a sex offender. One of our clients, age 18, spent time in county jail for statutory rape he had quite a long record and was attacked by other inmates, receiving a wound that required 90 stitches to close and left him with quite a scar.