Statutory rape is a criminal offense where an adult has sexual intercourse with a minor or a person suffering from a mentally incapacitating disease. The minor or mentally incapacitated person is assumed to be incapable of sexual consent. They are considered vulnerable, and are protected by several legal guidelines that impose penalties on the adult party.
Statutory rape does not need violence to be considered rape. Coercion is assumed. As long as the other party is a minor or mentally incapable, a crime has been committed. Different legal entities have different terms for the crime. It can be referred to as rape of a child (ROAC), sexual assault, and corruption of a minor, among other terms. Because a child is involved, it is treated as a serious crime and carries with it major criminal penalties.
