what is the legal age of consent in pa

In Pennsylvania, the legal age of consent is 16 years old. This means that people ages 16 and older can legally consent to sexual activity with anyone they choose, as long as the other person does not have authority over them as defined in Pennsylvania’s institutional sexual assault statute. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Teens between the ages of 13 and 15 cannot consent to sexual activity with anyone who is four or more years older than them. Children less than 13 years old cannot give consent to sexual activity. It is also important to note that even if someone younger than 13 provides consent, it is not legally valid. Violating the age of consent laws can result in charges for statutory rape.