Age of Consent

In the United States, each state determines the age at which a person can legally have sex. Age of Consent laws exist to prevent exploitation of young people, but these policies often spark debate because of their breadth and ambiguity. Many people may wonder if these policies are too protective in some cases and too punitive in others. This book offers a variety of perspectives on the effectiveness and impact of age of consent laws, allowing readers to gain an insight into a broad and challenging dialogue. The question of individual maturity in respect to consensual sex, the impact of Sarah's law on the rights of parents and children, and the criminal labeling of sexually active teens are just a few topics of discussion in this comprehensive anthology.