Introduction
Statutory rape is usually defined by the state law concerned. However, statutory rape is distinguished from other forms of rape in that the victim must necessarily be below the age of consent and that lack of consent is not a requisite to the crime on the common understanding that a person below a certain age lacks the capability to give an informed consent. Prior to the development of modern statutory rape laws, statutory rape was used to protect young women and children from the sexual incursion of unwanted males. At that time, women were regarded as chattels or property and as such ...
