In North America , the legal age of consent relating to sexual activity varies by jurisdiction. As of August , each U. In the case of the state of Washington , the age of consent rises to 21 for the specific instance student-teacher sex the age of consent in the state of Washington is otherwise As of April , of the total fifty U.
The age of consent in Mexico is complex. Typically, Mexican states have a "primary" age of consent which may be as low as 12 or the onset of puberty , and sexual conduct with persons below that age is always illegal. Sexual relations which occur between adults and teenagers under 18 are legally ambiguous: laws against corruption of minors as well as estupro laws can be applied to such acts, at the discretion of the prosecution. These laws are situational and are subject to interpretation.
The federal age of consent in Mexico is The ages of consent in the countries of Central America range from 14 to In four territories Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands , as well as in the sovereign nation of the Bahamas, there is a higher age of consent for same-sex sexual relations than opposite-sex ones.
The list of jurisdictions in North America is per the list of sovereign states and dependent territories in North America. The age of consent is the age at or above which a person is considered to have the legal capacity to consent to sexual activity.
(mh=MCWXcnwX9Uhlk4Ew)9.jpg "Sluts in Guanajuato")
Persons below the age of consent may not, by law, give consent, and sexual relations involving such persons may be punished by criminal sanctions similar to those for rape or sexual assault. Non-violent sexual contact with persons under the age of consent may be punished with varying degrees of severity, ranging from a misdemeanor with a simple fine, to a felony with a punishment equivalent to rape.
