Laws_regarding_incest_in_the_United_States

Legality of incest in the United States

Legality of incest in the United States

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Laws regarding incest in the United States vary widely between jurisdictions regarding both the definition of the offense and penalties for its commission.

Overview

In all but two states (and the special case of Ohio, which "targets only parental figures"),[1] incest is criminalized between consenting adults. In New Jersey and Rhode Island, incest between consenting adults (16 or over for Rhode Island, 18 or over for New Jersey) is not a criminal offense, though marriage is not allowed in either state. New Jersey also increases the severity of underage sex offenses by a degree if they are also incestuous, and also criminalizes incest with 16-17 year olds (the normal age of consent in New Jersey is 16). Ohio allows incest between consenting adults only when one party is not a parental figure (see table below) to the other.

As of 2010, cases of incest involving consenting adults are often not revealed to outside parties, and therefore prosecutions of these cases do not frequently occur. Cases of parent-adult child incest exposed to law enforcement are usually uncovered by another parent.[2]

Table

The table below summarizes these laws for individual U.S. States and the District of Columbia.

More information Jurisdiction, Prohibited relationships ...

Notes

According to a California Supreme Court case, being under the age of 18 in a consensual incestual relationship with an adult causes the minor to be a victim of the crime of incest, not an accomplice to the crime itself. See People v. Tobias (2001) 25 Cal.4th 327[75] However, this does not include a minor 14 years of age or older as the law was amended by the Legislature to partially overturn the ruling. See Stats. 2005, Ch. 477, Sec. 1. (SB 33).

See also


References

  1. "Inbred Obscurity: Improving Incest Laws in the Shadow of the 'Sexual Family', p. 2469-2470". Harvard Law Review. 119 (8): 2464–2485. June 2006. JSTOR 4093513.
  2. Clark-Flory, Tracy (2010-12-11). "The law on "consensual" incest". Salon. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  3. "Section 13A-13-3 - Code of Alabama". alisondb.legislature.state.al.us. Archived from the original on 2019-02-03. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  4. "Section 13A-5-6". alisondb.legislature.state.al.us. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  5. "Section 13A-5-11". alisondb.legislature.state.al.us. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  6. "Alaska Statutes 2018". www.legis.state.ak.us. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  7. "Alaska Statutes 2018". www.legis.state.ak.us. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  8. "Alaska Statutes 2018". www.legis.state.ak.us. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  9. "[A.S.C.A. § 46.3802]". American Samoa Bar Association. Archived from the original on 2020-09-20. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  10. "[A.S.C.A. § 46.2301]". American Samoa Bar Association. Archived from the original on 2020-09-20. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  11. "[A.S.C.A. § 46.2101]". American Samoa Bar Association. Archived from the original on 2020-09-20. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  12. "Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3608". Arizona State Legislature. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  13. "Arizona Revised Statutes 25-101". Arizona State Legislature. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  14. "Arizona Revised Statutes 13-702". Arizona State Legislature. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  15. "California Penal Code § 285". California Legislative Information. California Office of Legislative Counsel. 1 January 2006. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  16. "California Family Code § 2200". California Legislative Information. California Office of Legislative Counsel. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  17. "California Penal Code § 290". California Legislative Information. California Office of Legislative Counsel. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  18. "Statutes: Colorado § 18-6-302. Aggravated incest". Womenslaw. National Network to End Domestic Violence, Inc. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  19. "Statutes: Colorado § 18-6-301. Incest". Womenslaw. National Network to End Domestic Violence, Inc. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  20. 11 Del C § 766 and 4206
  21. D.C. Code § 22-1901
  22. Fla Stat § 826.04, 775.082, 775.083 and 775.084
  23. O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22
  24. Haw. Rev. Stat. § 707-741 and 706-660
  25. Idaho Code § 18-6601
  26. ILCS § 720 ILCS 5/11-11 and PENALTIES FOR CRIMES IN ILLINOIS, LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH UNIT, ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  27. Ind Cod Ann § 35-46-1-3 and Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorney Blog: A Look at the New Criminal Code, Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorney Blog, Banks & Bower LLC, June 29, 2014
  28. Iowa Code § 726.2 and Ave Mince-Didier, Iowa Felony Crimes by Class and Sentences
  29. K.S.A. § 21-3602, 21-3603 and Sentencing, kansas-criminal-defense-law.com (Incest is classified as a level 10 person felony, aggravated incest is classified as a level 5 person felony)
  30. 17-A M.R.S.§ 556
  31. ALM GL ch 272 § 17
  32. Miss. Code § 97-29-27
  33. MO. REV. STAT. § 568.020
  34. RSA § 639:2 in CHAPTER 639, Title LXII, Criminal Code of New Hampshire
  35. N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(b-c) and N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3 in NEW JERSEY, Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network[permanent dead link]
  36. N.M. Stat. § 30-10-3 and SENTENCING - THIRD DEGREE FELONY, Judicial Education Center, University of New Mexico
  37. "Title 6 § 1311, Criminal and Correctional Code" (PDF). CNMI Law Revision Commission.
  38. Section 885 - Incest - Penalty, Oklahoma Statutes Citationized, Title 21, Chapter 34
  39. Artículo 131. — Incesto. (33 L.P.R.A. § 5192) “Código Penal de Puerto Rico” (2012)
  40. TITLE 15, CHAPTER 15-1, SECTION 15-1-1 and SECTION 15-1-4
  41. S.D. Codified laws § 22-22A-2, 22-22A-3
  42. Tex. Penal Cod. § 25.02 and § 12-33 in Texas Penal Code, Title 3, Chapter 12, Subchapter A
  43. Utah Code § 76-7-102 and Ave Mince-Didier, Utah Felony Crimes by Class and Sentences
  44. 13 V.S.A. § 205
  45. ARCW § 9A.64.020 and 9A.20.021 in Chapter 9A.20 RCW, Washington State Legislature
  46. W. Va. Code § 61-8-12
  47. Wyo. Stat. § 6-4-402 in ARTICLE 4, Title 6, Wyoming Statutes
  48. "People v. Tobias (2001)". Justia Law. Retrieved 15 June 2020.

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