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 Connecticut, the age of consent is 16 years old. This means that it is considered statutory rape to have sexual intercourse with someone who is under 16, even if they are a willing participant, as they are not legally capable of giving informed consent. The severity of the offense can vary and may be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on factors such as the ages of the individuals involved and the specific circumstances of the sexual activity. Connecticut does have a 'Romeo and Juliet' law, which provides a defense to statutory rape charges when the individuals involved are close in age. Specifically, if one partner is 13 to 15 years old and the other is not more than three years older, the older individual may be exempt from prosecution for statutory rape. These laws are codified in Connecticut's penal code.