These laws do not legalize all sexual contact with minors; instead, they recognize the difference between predatory behavior by adults and consensual relationships between peers.
In many states, sexual conduct with someone juliet and romeo law below the age of consent is technically “statutory rape” even if both teenagers agreed. Without a Romeo and Juliet law, one teenager could be convicted as a sex offender simply because they are a few months older than the other. These laws narrow or soften that outcome.
Typically, they apply when the age difference between the participants is small—often within 2, 3, or 4 years—depending on the specific state. Some laws reduce the crime to a misdemeanor instead of a felony; others prevent the older teen from being required to register as a sex offender if the relationship was consensual and within the allowed age gap.
Romeo and Juliet laws exist because lawmakers and courts recognize that it is not reasonable or fair to treat consensual relationships among teens the same way as adult-minor abuse. Without these laws, an 18-year-old senior dating a 15-year-old sophomore could face decades-long consequences similar to those imposed on adult sexual predators. By narrowing the legal exposure,