Colorado’s close-in-age exemption, usually referred to informally by a well-liked literary moniker, addresses consensual sexual relationships between minors the place the age distinction falls inside a particular vary. As an example, it permits a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old to interact in a sexual relationship with out the older accomplice dealing with prosecution for statutory rape, supplied particular situations are met. These situations usually embody concerns of coercion, exploitation, and the pre-existing relationship dynamics.
This statutory exception seeks to stop the criminalization of consensual sexual exercise between younger folks whose ages are shut collectively, recognizing the developmental levels and complexities of adolescent relationships. It goals to steadiness the safety of minors from sexual exploitation with the avoidance of overly harsh penalties for people partaking in age-appropriate relationships. Traditionally, such legal guidelines have emerged from the popularity that strict statutory rape legal guidelines can generally result in unintended and arguably unjust penalties.
