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 selected vary. As an example, it permits a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old to have interaction in a sexual relationship with out the older companion dealing with prosecution for statutory rape, offered particular circumstances are met. These circumstances usually embody issues of coercion, exploitation, and the pre-existing relationship dynamics.
This statutory exception seeks to forestall 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.
