History Main / JailBait

* During his Let's Play of ''FinalFantasyX'', [[TheSpoonyExperiment Spoony]] repeatedly comments on how creepy it is to see 15 year old Rikku sexualized as much as she is, including repeated ass shots.

Now, there's a fine line between JailBait and [[{{Ephebophile}} ephebophilia]], and it depends on where it takes place, where the perpetrator is ''from'' (some countries have "sex tourism" laws) and how old the victim is. Generally, sexual interest in anyone under 13 is considered pedophilia.

Now, there's a fine line between JailBait and pedophilia[[hottip:¹:or, more accurately, [[{{Ephebophile}} ephebophilia]] ]], and it depends on where it takes place, where the perpetrator is ''from'' (some countries have "sex tourism" laws) and how old the victim is. Generally, sexual interest in anyone under 13 is considered pedophilia.

There's also been some recognition over the years by some state legislators that it doesn't make much sense to send someone to prison for several years because they're a few years older than their partner, just because one is of age and the other one technically isn't. So some places have set up what are called "Romeo and Juliet" laws, where if the age difference is within three or four years, it's either not illegal or a much less serious crime.

* Wendy Garret of ''GunXSword'' is somewhere in her early teens, but that doesn't stop her from being a LoveInterest, nor does it prevent her from being the object of AttemptedRape. Luckily, she's traveling with a protective CelibateHero, so she's relatively safe.

* Wendy Garret of ''GunXSword'' is somewhere in her early teens, but that doesn't stop her from being a love interest, nor does it prevent her from being the object of AttemptedRape. Luckily, she's traveling with a protective CelibateHero, so she's relatively safe.

There's also been some recognition over the years by some state legislators that it doesn't make much sense to send some boy to prison for several years because his girlfriend, who might be a year or two younger than him, is underage and if she wasn't nobody would have said anything. So some states have set up what are called "Romeo and Juliet" laws, where if the age difference is within three or four years, it's either not illegal or a much less serious crime. Under such laws having sex is OK if she is, say 15 and he is 18, but sex on every day after he turns 19 but she remains 15 [[FridgeLogic will make him a sexual offender]].

In RealLife, it is a [[NoSexAllowed serious crime]] for a legal adult to have sex with a minor who is below the age of consent (which [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Age_of_Consent.png is varied from place to place]], e.g. usually 16-18 in North America and 14-16 in Europe, but in fiction is "always" 18, largely due to WeAllLiveInAmerica and SoCalization). The term for a person, or provocative pictures of them, who is under that age but looks either old enough or hot enough for onlookers to forget the difference is "Jail Bait." The "joke" about this was "15 will get you 20", only it isn't a joke - according to the law, a minor can't consent due to the fact that a naive and hormonal teenager might not make the most sound decisions, so even if she does [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean say yes]], the law considers it the same as rape, hence the term "statutory rape".

In RealLife, it is a [[NoSexAllowed serious crime]] for a of-age [[AlwaysMale man]] to have sex with a girl who is below the age of consent (which [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Age_of_Consent.png is varied from place to place]], e.g. usually 16-18 in North America and 14-16 in Europe, but in fiction is "always" 18, largely due to WeAllLiveInAmerica and SoCalization). The term for a [[strike:girl]] person ([[DoubleStandard theoretically an adult woman taking advantage of an emotionally immature boy is wrong,]] but [[AllMenArePerverts a young teenage boy always says yes]]), or [[MostCommonSuperpower provocative]] pictures of [[strike:her]] them, who is under that age but looks either old enough or hot enough for onlookers to forget the difference is "Jail Bait." The "joke" about this was "15 will get you 20", only it isn't a joke - according to the law, an underage girl can't consent, so even if she does [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean say yes]], the law considers it the same as rape, hence the term "statutory rape".

In RealLife, it is a [[NoSexAllowed serious crime]] for a of-age [[AlwaysMale man]] to have sex with a girl who is below the age of consent (which [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Age_of_Consent.png is varied from place to place]], e.g. usually 16-18 in North America and 14-16 in Europe, but in fiction is "always" 18, largely due to SoCalization). The term for a [[strike:girl]] person ([[DoubleStandard theoretically an adult woman taking advantage of an emotionally immature boy is wrong,]] but [[AllMenArePerverts a young teenage boy always says yes]]), or [[MostCommonSuperpower provocative]] pictures of [[strike:her]] them, who is under that age but looks either old enough or hot enough for onlookers to forget the difference is "Jail Bait." The "joke" about this was "15 will get you 20", only it isn't a joke - according to the law, an underage girl can't consent, so even if she does [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean say yes]], the law considers it the same as rape, hence the term "statutory rape".

In RealLife, it is a [[NoSexAllowed serious crime]] for a of-age [[AlwaysMale man]] to have sex with a girl who is below the age of consent (which [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Age_of_Consent.png is varied from place to place]], e.g. usually 16-18 in North America and 14-16 in Europe, but in the fiction is "always" 18, largely due to SoCalization). The term for a [[strike:girl]] person ([[DoubleStandard theoretically an adult woman taking advantage of an emotionally immature boy is wrong,]] but [[AllMenArePerverts a young teenage boy always says yes]]), or [[MostCommonSuperpower provocative]] pictures of [[strike:her]] them, who is under that age but looks either old enough or hot enough for onlookers to forget the difference is "Jail Bait." The "joke" about this was "15 will get you 20", only it isn't a joke - according to the law, an underage girl can't consent, so even if she does [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean say yes]], the law considers it the same as rape, hence the term "statutory rape".

In RealLife, it is a [[NoSexAllowed serious crime]] for a of-age [[AlwaysMale man]] to have sex with a girl who is below the age of consent (which, depending on the country, is usually 14-18, typically 16-18 in North America and 14-16 in Europe, but in the fiction is always 18 due to SoCalization). The term for a [[strike:girl]] person ([[DoubleStandard theoretically an adult woman taking advantage of an emotionally immature boy is wrong,]] but [[AllMenArePerverts a young teenage boy always says yes]]), or [[MostCommonSuperpower provocative]] pictures of [[strike:her]] them, who is under that age but looks either old enough or hot enough for onlookers to forget the difference is "Jail Bait." The "joke" about this was "15 will get you 20", only it isn't a joke - according to the law, an underage girl can't consent, so even if she does [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean say yes]], the law considers it the same as rape, hence the term "statutory rape".

In RealLife, it is a [[NoSexAllowed serious crime]] for a of-age [[AlwaysMale man]] to have sex with a girl who is below the age of consent (which, depending on the country, is usually 16-18). The term for a [[strike:girl]] person ([[DoubleStandard theoretically an adult woman taking advantage of an emotionally immature boy is wrong,]] but [[AllMenArePerverts a young teenage boy always says yes]]), or [[MostCommonSuperpower provocative]] pictures of [[strike:her]] them, who is under that age but looks either old enough or hot enough for onlookers to forget the difference is "Jail Bait." The "joke" about this was "15 will get you 20", only it isn't a joke - according to the law, an underage girl can't consent, so even if she does [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean say yes]], the law considers it the same as rape, hence the term "statutory rape".

In RealLife, it is a [[NoSexAllowed serious crime]] for a of-age [[AlwaysMale man]] to have sex with a girl who is below the age of consent (which, depending on the country, is usually 16-18). The term for a [[strike:girl]] person ([[DoubleStandard theoretically an adult woman taking advantage of an emotionally immature boy is wrong,]] but [[AllMenArePerverts a young teenage boy always says yes]] or [[MostCommonSuperpower provocative]] pictures of [[strike:her]] them) who is under that age but looks either old enough or hot enough for onlookers to forget the difference is "Jail Bait." The joke on this was "15 will get you 20", only it isn't a joke - according to the law, an underage girl can't consent, so even if she does [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean say yes]], the law considers it the same as rape, hence the term "statutory rape".

Now, there's a fine line between JailBait and pedophilia[[hottip:¹:or, more accurately, [[{{Ephebophile}} ephebophilia]] ]], and it depends on where the perpetrator is at and how old the victim is. Generally, sexual interest in anyone under 13 is considered pedophilia.

There's also been some recognition over the years by some state legislators that it doesn't make much sense to send some boy to prison for several years because his girlfriend, who might be a year or two younger than him, is underage and if she wasn't nobody would have said anything. So some states have set up what are called "Romeo and Juliet" laws, where if the age difference is within three or four years, it's either not illegal or a much less serious crime. Under such laws having sex is ok if she is, say 15 and he is 18, but sex on every day after he turns 19 but she remains 15 [[FridgeLogic will make him a sexual offender]].

** Not just videos, but thanks to cell phones, jurisdictions all over the US are struggling to deal with sexting. Kids snap racy shots of themselves and face, potentially, charges of making and distributing child pornography. For BonusPoints it's legally possible to be a registered sex offender (for life) for taking and possessing pictures of yourself...Well, at least it's better than going to jail for receiving such pictures against your will. (Not to mention the fact that you'd have to be a pretty racy kid to take those pictures, anyway.)

In RealLife, it is a [[NoSexAllowed serious crime]] for a of-age [[AlwaysMale man]] to have sex with a girl who is below the age of consent (which, depending on the country, is usually 16-18). The term for a girl (or [[MostCommonSuperpower provocative]] pictures of her) who is under that age but looks either old enough or hot enough for onlookers to forget the difference is "Jail Bait." The joke on this was "15 will get you 20", only it isn't a joke - according to the law, an underage girl can't consent, so even if she does [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean say yes]], the law considers it the same as rape, hence the term "statutory rape".

Now, there's a fine line between JailBait and pedophilia[[hottip:¹:or, more accurately, [[{{Ephebophile}} ephebophilia]] ]], and it depends on where the perpetrator is at and how old the victim is. Generally, sexual interest in anyone under 12 is considered pedophilia.

** Not just videos, but thanks to cell phones, jurisdictions all over the US are struggling to deal with sexting. Kids snap racy shots of themselves and face, potentially, charges of making and distributing child pornography. For BonusPoints it's legally possible to be a registered sex offender (for life) for taking and possessing pictures of yourself.

** Not just videos, but thanks to cell phones, jurisdictions all over the US are struggling to deal with sexting. Kids snap racy shots of themselves and face, potentially, charges of making and distributing child pornography. For bonus points its legally possible to be a registered sex offender (for life) for taking and possessing pictures of yourself.

Sometimes they're YoungerThanTheyLook. It may be [[DistractedByTheSexy difficult to realize]] this until it is [[GameOverMan too late]], however.

See also LegalJailBait. Contrast DawsonCasting.

It is a serious crime for a of-age man to have sex with a girl who is below the age of consent (which is usually 16-18, depending on the state). The term for a girl under age is Jail Bait. The joke on this was "15 will get you 20", only it isn't a joke; an underage girl by law can't consent, so even if she does say yes, the law considers it the same as rape, hence the term "statutory rape".

Also, it's considered a "strict liability" crime; all they have to prove is the other person is under age and you had sex with them, and you're guilty. You don't have to have intent to break the law or simply made a mistake, if she's underage and you boinked her, if the authorities find out, you're likely to be getting free room and board as an involuntary guest of the state. There might be a defense if you saw a fake ID from her that falsely showed her to be over 18, but if that happened they probably won't charge you.

Now, there's a fine line between JailBait and pedophilia[[hottip:¹:or more accurately [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephebophilia ephebohilia]] ]], and it depends on where the perp is at and how old the victim is. Generally, sexual interest in anyone under 12 is considered pedophilia. Some states set the age where it stops being pedophilia - which would require registration as a sex offender - at 15, and above that age it's "merely" statutory rape if the victim is still under the age of consent. The difference being, if you're convicted of being a pedophile, if and when you get out of jail, you will be required to register with the police - potentially for life - as a sex offender; they may also try to have you "civilly committed" to an institution after your sentence if they think you might do it again. While if you get caught having sex with someone under age, you get jail or prison time (depending on the law and how the prosecutor feels about it) and that's usually it.

Well, they've made a few changes. Some states — California is one — have made sex with anyone under 18 a crime as well. This was done not because they wanted to protect boys from abuse so much as preventing someone from mounting a legal challenge over a law that criminalizes having sex with an underage girl but not with an underage boy.

There's also been some recognition over the years by some state legislators that it doesn't make much sense to send some boy to prison for several years because his girlfriend, who might be a year or two younger than him, is underage and if she wasn't nobody would have said anything. So some states have set up what are called "Romeo and Juliet" laws, where if the age difference is within three or four years, it's either not a crime or reduced from a serious felony to a misdemeanor. And it's different in each state: Colorado makes it a crime to have sex with someone under 17 unless their age is within four years of the older person, in which case if it was consensual, it's not a crime. California reduces the penalty for having consensual sex with someone under 18 from a felony to a misdemeanor if the age difference is three years or less.

Now they throw a few lemon twists into this. In some states, if your girlfriend is underage and you get married to them, and stay married for at least three years, then they'll dismiss the charges. Also being married exempts a charge under this type of law, so if in one of those states like, say, West Virginia, which has a reputation for inbreeding, where you're an old maid at 19 and the definition of a virgin is a girl who can run faster than her brother, some guy marries a 13-year-old (who might even be his cousin!), and moves to a state where having sex with someone under 14 is considered pedophilia, it doesn't matter because as long as the marriage was legal where it took place, they can't charge him with anything as long as he doesn't actually rape her.

Where they have "Romeo and Juliet" laws, if the age difference permitted is, say, three years, and the age of consent is 18, then if an 18-year-old boy has a 15-year-old girlfriend, it's either not illegal or a much less serious crime. Same thing if she's 14, he's 17, or she's 16 and he's 19 (or vice versa, although the chances of a 19-year-old girl being charged with a crime because she had a 15-year-old boyfriend is statistically almost zero). But it would rise to the more serious crime if she were 14 and he was 18, or if she was still 15 but he was 19.

Despite all the changes, it still provides some interesting incidents.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genarlow_Wilson Genarlow Wilson]] became famous after he was taped being the recipient of a blow job by an enthusiastic teenybopper. Unfortunately, that was considered sodomy, and carried a long prison sentence, plus registration as a sex offender for ten years after release. If he had simply had sex with her, it would have been a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of six months and no sex offender status. The public outcry over the injustice of this caused Georgia to change its laws. Wilson ended up getting out of prison after two years.