What Is the Illinois Legal Age of Consent?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 30, 2020

According to LegalMatch, the legal age of consent in the state of Illinois is 17. However, it is illegal for adults over 18 who are in a position of authority over minors, such as teachers or coaches, to engage in sexual contact with anyone under 18.

According to Steven C. Haney, Illinois does not have a “Romeo and Juliet” law allowing people over the age of majority to engage in sex with minors within a certain age difference. This means that anyone over the age of 17 can be charged with statutory rape for having sexual contact with someone under 17.