Like many other states, when one or both of the partners are under the age of consent, the law places more importance on the age difference between them.

Arkansas Age of Consent Lawyers

In many cases, a person between the ages of 14 and 16 can consent to sex with a person who is no more than 3 years older. However, if the offender is more than 20 years old, and the victim is under 16, the punishment is far harsher than it would be otherwise. In the past, homosexual activity is illegal for persons of any age. However, in , the United States Supreme Court ruled that such laws, as applied to consenting adults in private settings, are unconstitutional.

Arkansas Statutory Rape Laws

Hence, it is not certain what the age of consent for such sodomy is in Arkansas. Arkansas courts have two age limits that they might use to determine the age of consent for homosexual conduct. They may possibly default to the age of consent for heterosexual conduct, which is However, because the state clearly frowns on homosexual conduct, it is also possible that they may try to limit it by imposing a higher age of consent, such as Until there is case precedent or state legislature on such issue, we do not know the definite age of consent for homosexual activity.

If you find yourself in the situation where you might have engaged in inappropriate conduct with a person below the age of consent, then you should consult a criminal law lawyer.


  • gay dating sites ottawa.
  • dating cincinnati ohio.
  • whatsapp dating rules.
  • Ages of consent in the United States;

He can assist you and help you determine whether you have any valid defenses to your case. Moreover, he can speak on your behalf and lower your punishment, if the Arkansas legal system does punish you.

Ages of consent in the United States - Wikipedia

Can't find your category? The Arkansas Age of Consent is 16 years old. In the United States, the age of consent is the minimum age at which an individual is considered legally old enough to consent to participation in sexual activity.

CA "Statutory Rape" Laws - Penal Code 261.5

Individuals aged 15 or younger in Arkansas are not legally able to consent to sexual activity, and such activity may result in prosecution for statutory rape. Arkansas statutory rape law is violated when a person has consensual sexual intercourse with an individual under age If the offender is under age 18, the younger party must not be under 14 years of age a defense exists if the younger party is at no more than 4 years younger than the offender, or no more than 3 years younger if the victim is under Arkansas has a close-in-age exemption.

A close in age exemption , also known as "Romeo and Juliet law", is designed to prevent the prosecution of underage couples who engage in consensual sex when both participants are significantly close in age to each other, and one or both are below the age of consent. Depending on the situation, the Arkansas close-in-age exemption may completely exempt qualifying close-in-age couples from the age of consent law, or merely provide a legal defence that can be used in the event of prosecution. The Age of Consent ranges state-by-state from 16 to 18 years old across the United States.


  • Arkansas’s Statutory Rape Laws and Potential Penalties.
  • youtube hook up.
  • .
  • what is the legal age for dating in colorado.
  • .

Click the map to view any state's age of consent laws. The age of consent in Arkansas is based on the following statutes from the Arkansas criminal code:.