State Legislators' Handbook for Statutory Rape Issues

The State Legislators’ Handbook for Statutory Rape Issues
is designed to help State legislators develop effective and
enforceable statutory rape laws that can and will be used to
prosecute offenders and prevent occurrences of the crime. This
Handbook provides a framework for developing and analyzing
legislation that would make sexual intercourse with a minor a
crime based on the age of the minor. Its purpose is to assist
legislators and policymakers who are amending their statutory
rape laws. While each State must determine what laws to pass,
this Handbook provides a framework for discussing and considering
the issues.

This Handbook begins with background information and a
description of what led to its development. Next, specific issues
are discussed, including raising the age of consent, age differentials,
pregnancy, reporting, and penalties. Then, questions for
each issue are offered for legislators and policymakers to consider
before drafting new legislation or amending existing law.