In most states it is a criminal offense (statutory rape) to have sexual intercourse with a person under the age of consent—which is usually between 16 and 18 years of age. These laws are premised on the belief that a person under the age of consent is not capable of giving informed consent to sexual intercourse—even if the person was a willing participant.

Statutory rape may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor offense or as a felony offense—depending on the state’s laws and the ages and circumstances of the sexual activity. Statutory rape laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

But many states recognize a defense to such a criminal offense if the persons engaged in the sexual activity were close in age—within three years, for example—provided the persons were at least 14 years of age, for example. These laws are sometimes called Romeo-and-Juliet laws, and are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Louisiana (LA), the age of consent is 17 years old, meaning that sexual intercourse with someone under this age is considered statutory rape, which is a criminal offense. Louisiana law recognizes that individuals under the age of consent cannot legally give informed consent to sexual activities. The severity of the offense, whether it is prosecuted as a misdemeanor or a felony, depends on various factors, including the ages of the individuals involved and the specific circumstances of the sexual activity. Louisiana does have a 'Romeo and Juliet' law, which provides a close-in-age exemption. This exemption typically applies when the individuals involved in the sexual activity are close in age to each other, and both are above a certain age threshold, which helps to prevent the prosecution of consensual sexual activities among peers. These laws are codified in the Louisiana Revised Statutes, specifically within the criminal code.