Child Marriage, Age of Consent, and Statutory Rape Laws in the United States
Document Type
Forensics
Keywords
laws, marriage, children
Biography
I am Abigail Cunningham. I am a freshman majoring in public communications with a minor in English from Sissonville, West Virginia. At Marshall, I am one of the co-music directors at the campus radio station, WMUL.
Major
Public communications
Advisor for this project
Stephen Underhill
Abstract
In this presentation, I will examine the laws regarding the marriage of minors, the age of consent, and statutory rape in the United States of America. In regard to marriage of minors, I will discuss the inconsistency in laws across state lines, underage marriage exceptions, and the negative effects marrying while underage can have on a child. I will describe the age of consent common legal definition, and inconsistencies across state lines. I will then explain statutory rape laws and tie all three together. This will be done by assessing the inconsistent or nonexistent use of the term “statutory rape” in legal codes in different states, the age differential laws in different states, and the marriage defense that exists in federal legal codes. This presentation will educate the audience on the contradictions and complexities regarding the laws about child marriage, the age of consent, and statutory rape and hopefully inspire consideration about these laws and the need for change to better protect the children in this country.
Child Marriage, Age of Consent, and Statutory Rape Laws in the United States
In this presentation, I will examine the laws regarding the marriage of minors, the age of consent, and statutory rape in the United States of America. In regard to marriage of minors, I will discuss the inconsistency in laws across state lines, underage marriage exceptions, and the negative effects marrying while underage can have on a child. I will describe the age of consent common legal definition, and inconsistencies across state lines. I will then explain statutory rape laws and tie all three together. This will be done by assessing the inconsistent or nonexistent use of the term “statutory rape” in legal codes in different states, the age differential laws in different states, and the marriage defense that exists in federal legal codes. This presentation will educate the audience on the contradictions and complexities regarding the laws about child marriage, the age of consent, and statutory rape and hopefully inspire consideration about these laws and the need for change to better protect the children in this country.
