Limits of Carnal Knowledge
- Carnal-knowledge laws are related to age-of-consent laws (governments tend to state at what age an individual can legally partake in carnal knowledge). The age of legal consent differs from country to country and can often be distinguished by the exact action(s) of the individual---that is, different types of carnal knowledge have different legal rulings. Carnal-knowledge laws in the United Kingdom, for instance, define consent at 16 years old (or 18 if one individual is in a relative position of trust over the other).
- Most countries have these kinds of legislation, since young children who are below the age of consent are not considered to have the level of maturity needed to make their own decisions about their sexual lives. In this regard, the laws regarding sexual abuse against an adult and abuse against a minor are different: For an adult, abuse or assault is based on the lack of consent for such actions; for a minor, however, the issue is irrelevant because a minor cannot legally give consent.
- In some countries, carnal-knowledge limits are instituted to defend minors from sexual mistreatment. In the United States, federal laws do exist, but individual states are left to define age-of-consent parameters (federal laws are more concerned with the prevention of sexual exploitation and the protection of minors from sexual abuse). For example, under federal law, attempting to encourage a child to participate in a sexual act is a criminal offense.
- Across the country, the age of consent ranges from 16 to 18 (with any sexual activity involving a minor below these ages deemed a criminal offense and in some cases statutory rape). In California, for example, where the age of consent is 18, if the age difference is three or lower, the offense is a misdemeanor; otherwise, it becomes a felony.