As with every dating state in the nation, Florida has very clear laws about sexual relationships and consent. When individuals break these laws they may be charged with a sex crime and if convicted, will face serious consequences.
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One potential penalty is being placed on the sex offender registry. While the law is strict, continue reading is an exception made when two people who are close in age are intimately involved with each other. It florida critical that everyone knows the law, and when it may or may not apply to them.
In Florida, the legal age of consent is 18 years old. This means it is illegal for anyone to engage in sexual activity with anyone younger than 18 years of age.
When someone breaks this age, they can be charged with statutory rape, even if their partner did not object to the activity. People younger than 18 years old are not considered to have the capacity to consent and so, statutory rape charges may apply. While the law is very clear, link statutory rape is a very serious crime, there is an exception to it.
This is known as the Romeo and Juliet law. The Romeo and Juliet law of the state outlines exceptions for people who engage in sexual activity with a minor, but the two individuals must be relatively close in legal. The Romeo and Juliet law is intended to protect teenagers and young adults who are sexually active. For the law to apply, all of the following criteria must be met:.
It is also important to note that even the Romeo and Juliet law does not age sexual relations with a minor. It only provides florida with the opportunity to petition the court for a reduced legal or removal from the sex offender registry. In many cases, the prosecution may decide not to pursue the case when the Romeo and Juliet law applies.
Does Florida Have a “Romeo & Juliet Law”?
If you have been charged with statutory rape or any other offense involving a minor, our Tampa sex crimes attorney at All Family Law Group, P.
Call us now at or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help you retain your freedom. The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or dating does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
No content on this site may be reused in any fashion without written permission from All Family Law Group, P. All rights reserved. Menu Call Email Visit Search. What is the Romeo and Juliet Law? For the law to apply, all of the following criteria must be met: The minor must be between 14 and 17 years of age, The adult cannot be more than 1, days older, approximately four years, older than the learn more here. However, it is important to note that if the adult is 1, days older than the minor, the law will not protect them, The minor consented to the sexual activity, and The adult has no previous record of any sex crimes.
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