Statutory Rape

The term "statutory rape" is used in some common law jurisdictions to refer to sexual activities in which one person is below the age required to legally consent to the behavior. Although it usually refers to adults engaging in sex with minors under the age of consent, it is a generic term, and very few jurisdictions use the actual term "statutory rape" in the language of statutes.

Different jurisdictions use many different statutory terms for the crime, such as "sexual assault" (SA), "rape of a child" (ROAC), "corruption of a minor" (COAM), "unlawful sex with a minor" (USWAM), "carnal knowledge of a minor" (CKOAM), "unlawful carnal knowledge" (UCK), "sexual battery" or simply "carnal knowledge".

In statutory rape, overt force or threat need not be present. The laws presume coercion, because a minor or mentally challenged adult is legally incapable of giving consent to the act.

The term "statutory rape" generally refers to sex between an adult and a sexually mature minor past the age of puberty. Sexual relations with a prepubescent child, generically called "child sexual abuse" or "molestation", is typically treated as a more serious crime.