Empowering Teens to have Healthy Relationships
The Statutory Rape Prevention Project is a program of the Nevada Public Health Foundation in partnership with The Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services. Since its creation in 1999, the Statutory Rape Prevention Project’s mission is to increase the prevention and enforcement of age-gap relationships while promoting awareness about the harmful, lifelong consequences on the victims. By educating our communities, we help teens in Nevada learn how to foster safe, healthy, and happy relationships.
Why the Statutory Rape Prevention Project is Important
While statutory rape is a problem in every state, it is especially an area of concern in Nevada. To combat this problem, there are various laws in place to protect individuals under the age of consent from perpetrators and inappropriate sexual relationships with adults.
Sexual relationships between adults and children are harmful to adolescents and can have negative long-term consequences. Most minors know the age limits for getting a tattoo, driver’s license, or even voting, but are not typically familiar with Nevada’s laws on sexual relationships. As students begin dating and exploring their sexuality, it is important to provide them with the proper education in order to prevent inappropriate and illegal sexual relationships from occurring.
The Age of Consent in Nevada
- 16 years old: You can say “yes” to consensual sexual acts with someone 16 years or older.
- 14-15 years old: You can say “yes” to sexual acts with someone less than four years older than yourself.
- Under 14 years old: You cannot say “yes” or consent to sexual acts with anyone, regardless of the age difference.
Did you know?
- In 2002, approximately 13% of females and 5% of males under the age of 18 had experienced statutory rape. (Source)
- In Nevada, 70% of babies born to teen mothers are fathered by adult men. (Source)
- Statutory rape victims are more likely to become pregnant, contract a sexually transmitted disease, drop out of school, and experiment with drugs and alcohol. (Source)
- Evidence supports the need for this type of education due to the increase in teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, dropout rates, drug, and alcohol use, and disrupted development. (Source)
Laws that Apply
Note: These laws ONLY apply in Nevada! Other states have different laws. Even if a relationship is legal here, it may not be legal in a different state.
Additional Resources
For a list of frequently asked questions, please visit our FAQ page.
