What is the legal age in Maine?

The age of majority, or age at which you are considered a legal adult in Maine, is 18. You can be automatically emancipated by getting married.

What is the lowest age of consent?

United States: Highest and Lowest State Ages of Consent

• The highest state Age of Consent in the United States is 18.
• The lowest state Age of Consent in the United States is 16.
• The highest Age of Consent in the world is 21 in Bahrain.
• The lowest Age of Consent in the world is 11, in Nigeria.

Can a 13 year old date a 16 year old in Maine?

Maine statutory rape law is violated when a person has consensual sexual intercourse with an individual under age 16 who is not their spouse. Close in age exemption allow those aged 14 and 15 to consent to partners less than 5 years older. Maine has a close-in-age exemption.

What year did the age of consent change from 21 to 18?

1994
The Sexual Offences Act 1967 made changes so that homosexual men over age 21 could have sexual relationships, in private. In 1994 a further change saw it reduced to those aged over 18.

What is the age of consent in Maine?

In Maine, the age of consent is 16, and people who engage in sexual activity with children who are age 15 or younger may be convicted of statutory rape (also called sexual abuse, unlawful sexual conduct or touching, or gross sexual assault). Maine also has special rules that apply to teachers and school employees.

How old do you have to be to commit sexual abuse in Maine?

Sexual abuse of a minor. Under Maine’s laws, a defendant commits sexual abuse by engaging in a sex act with: a child age 14 or 15 when the defendant is at least five years older, or. a student age 16 or 17 when the defendant is a teacher or school employee who is at least 21 years old and the student is enrolled in the same school or district.

Why is there a close in age exemption in Maine?

Maine 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.

When does a person commit the crime of unlawful sexual conduct in Maine?

A person in Maine commits the crime of unlawful sexual conduct by engaging in sexual (genital or anal) touching, short of a sex act, when: the victim is under the age of 14 and the defendant is at least three years older the defendant is a teacher and the victim is a student who is enrolled in the same school or district.