State Laws. Pennsylvania

09/25/2000

  • A. Statutory Rape - Criminal Offenses

    • Sexual intercourse with someone less than 13 years of age is illegal regardless of the age of the defendant.[641] Sexual intercourse with someone at least 13 years of age and less than 16 years of age is illegal unless the defendant is less than four years older than the victim or is the victim’s spouse.[642]

      Definition of Offenses

      Offense Definition
      Indecent assault[643] Indecent contact[644] with someone less than 13 years of age.[645]

      Indecent contact with someone at least 13 years of age and less than 16 years of age where the defendant is at least 4 years older than the victim and not the victim’s spouse.
      Aggravated indecent assault[646] Aggravated indecent assault[647] of someone less than 13 years of age.

      Aggravated indecent assault of someone at least 13 years of age and less than 16 years of age where the defendant is at least 4 years older than the victim and not the victim’s spouse.
      Statutory sexual assault[648] Engaging in sexual intercourse[649] with someone at least 13 years of age and less than 16 years of age where the defendant is at least 4 years older than the victim and not the victim’s spouse.
      Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse[650] Engaging in deviate sexual intercourse[651] with someone less than 13 years of age.

      Engaging in deviate sexual intercourse with someone at least 13 years of age and less than 16 years of age where the defendant is at least 4 years older than the victim and not the victim’s spouse.
      Rape[652] Engaging in sexual intercourse with someone less than 13 years of age.

       

  • B. Child Abuse Reporting Requirements

    • 1. Inclusion of statutory rape in reporting requirements

      Mandated reporters are required to notify the proper authorities of all cases of suspected child abuse.[653] The definition of child abuse includes the sexual offenses listed in the previous section, but it only applies to cases where the defendant is the child’s parent, a person responsible for the child, an individual living in the home of the child, or a paramour of the child’s parent.[654]

      2. Mandatory reporters

      Mandatory reporters include all individuals who encounter a case of suspected abuse through their professional or official capacity. The statute exempts clergy who learn of abuse through confidential confession.[655]

      3. Who to report to

      The Department of Public Welfare is required to maintain a statewide toll-free hotline and central registry to receive and track reports of abuse.[656] All reports of suspected child abuse must be made immediately to the Department’s hotline; reporters can also notify the county children and youth social service agency. Oral reports must be followed by written reports to the county agency within 48 hours of the initial notification.[657]

      4. State response

      The Department of Public Welfare must notify the children and youth social service agency in the county where the abuse allegedly occurred of all reports it receives and whether the statewide central registry indicates a prior report or current investigation.[658] The county agency should coordinate its investigation of alleged abuse with the appropriate county law enforcement agency.[659]