Incest is marriage or sexual relations between close relatives. The criminal offense of incest may also be known as prohibited sexual conduct. Laws vary from state to state, but incest laws generally prohibit marriage or sexual relations between (1) a person’s ancestor or descendant by blood or adoption; (2) a person’s current or former stepchild or stepparent; (3) a person’s parent’s brother or sister of the whole or half blood; (4) a person’s brother or sister of the whole or half blood or by adoption; (5) the children of a person’s brother or sister of the whole or half blood, or by adoption; or (6) the son or daughter of a person’s aunt or uncle of the whole or half blood or by adoption.

Lack of consent to sexual relations between such relatives is not an element of the crime, and persons may be guilty of the crime even if both parties consented.

Laws regarding incest or prohibited sexual contact vary from state to state and are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code. The crime is a felony offense in many states, with potential punishment of significant jail or prison time.

In Connecticut, incest is defined as marriage or sexual relations between close relatives and is considered a criminal offense. Under Connecticut law, specifically Connecticut General Statutes Section 53a-191, a person is guilty of incest when such person marries or engages in sexual intercourse with a person whom he or she knows to be related to him or her, within any of the degrees of kindred specified by the statutes. These degrees of kindred include an ancestor or descendant, a brother or sister of the whole or half blood, an uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece by blood. The law does not require a lack of consent as an element of the crime, meaning that incest can be charged even if both parties consent to the relationship. Incest is classified as a class D felony in Connecticut, which can result in a term of imprisonment and/or a fine if convicted.