Should teenagers face criminal charges and personal accountability along with their older counterparts for their role in statutory rape cases?

Question

I understand that every state and country has it's different laws as far as the age of consent. But I believe the starting age for a teenager should be 13 to face criminal charges and personal responsibility if they are not old enough to consent unless it is proven that they were blackmailed, raped or forced in any way to engage in a sexual relationship against their will. But most teenagers know exactly what they are doing.

And the reason for my opinion is it is a proven fact that teenagers are not mature enough to consent to a sexual relationship with a much older person of age which is obviously why they call it "statutory rape" but with that being the case why is it then okay for teenagers engage in that same type of relationship with each other but with a much older person than it is considered wrong why the double standard?

But anyway back to my question, another reason why I believe that teenagers should be charged as well for this crying is because there are many cases where young teenage girls will lie about their age and will make dating profiles falsifying their age posing as legal adult women in order to seek out men of age. Many young teenage girls will also dress very provocatively to provoke the attention of adult grown men which goes back to my statement about them posing as adult women in order to date these men and there are also other situations where the minor teenager does not lie about their age but will still voluntarily engage in these types of relationships knowing that their adult counterparts are much too older to date them.

I have read many stories regarding teachers having very inappropriate relationships with their high school students and one of the stories that I have read this older teacher who was 28 years old had a baby with a 16 year old boy which I am sure that he was aware of her age while she was aware of his age so I say all of that to say that mature or not, teenagers know right from wrong.

Answer 1

btbc92

Master

"But most teenagers know exactly what they are doing." Speaks for itself. I would hear people boasting about the sex they had with other people. You can't make an adult decision and then want to finally tell an adult. Own up like an adult. And the ones who lie and say the adults always wanted whatever are just as guilty as the ones who knew better.

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1 Person

Cherrylicious

1 y
I agree with your statement I believe BOTH parties are responsible with the act because NO ADULT of age should be engaging in a sexual relationship the same argument vice versa so I bring it up because this situation is always one-sided and only the adult is at fault for it instead of holding the minor child responsible as well. Teenagers are not innocent as they have a mind of their own and are aware of the choices they make.

Answer 2

Cherrylicious

I agree with your statement I believe BOTH parties are responsible with the act because NO ADULT of age should be engaging in a sexual relationship the same argument vice versa so I bring it up because this situation is always one-sided and only the adult is at fault for it instead of holding the minor child responsible as well. Teenagers are not innocent as they have a mind of their own and are aware of the choices they make.

Answer 3

JuliaStyles

Xper 7

It's totally ludicrous that a 2 year age difference makes a person guilty of statutory rape and maybe going to prison, or just being a kid having a good time having sex with an underage girl and not even getting school detention or even a slap on the wrist.

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Answer 4

OddBeMe | 13.2K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Master

Well, if their not mature enough to consent to sex, they’re not mature enough to understand why it’s wrong.

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3 People

Cherrylicious

1 y
Knowing the difference is between right and wrong is not dependent on maturity. Most teenagers that do such things and commit adult apps know exactly what they are doing which is why most of the time these behaviors are frequently hidden from their parents such as smoking, drug use, drinking, having sex Etc because they know that they should not be doing these things to begin with this is the point that I am making just because you are not "mature" it does not make you innocent.
OddBeMe

1 y
maturity is absolutely a factor.

Answer 5

Cherrylicious

Knowing the difference is between right and wrong is not dependent on maturity. Most teenagers that do such things and commit adult apps know exactly what they are doing which is why most of the time these behaviors are frequently hidden from their parents such as smoking, drug use, drinking, having sex Etc because they know that they should not be doing these things to begin with this is the point that I am making just because you are not "mature" it does not make you innocent.

Answer 6

OddBeMe

maturity is absolutely a factor.

Answer 7

Gedaria

Master

In the UK they usually do.

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Answer 8

Glasgow55 | 137 opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.

Xper 6

Definitely.

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Cherrylicious

1 y
Your reason?
Glasgow55

1 y
Anything illegal should be punished, otherwise no lesson is learnt. If there is no accountability, then people think they can do whatever they want, which leads to a lack of respect and social unrest.

Answer 9

Cherrylicious

Your reason?

Answer 10

Glasgow55

Anything illegal should be punished, otherwise no lesson is learnt. If there is no accountability, then people think they can do whatever they want, which leads to a lack of respect and social unrest.

Answer 11

kompantiot444

Xper 1

Yes i belive so

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Cherrylicious

1 y
And why do you think so?
kompantiot444

1 y
because they commited a crime

Answer 12

Cherrylicious

And why do you think so?

Answer 13

kompantiot444

because they commited a crime

Should teenagers face criminal charges and personal accountability along with their older counterparts for their role in statutory rape cases?

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