The Age of Consent
720 ILCS 5/11-1.50 — seventeen, and a misdemeanor when the gap is under five years
Sexual penetration or conduct with someone at least 13 but under 17, by a person less than 5 years older, is criminal sexual abuse, a Class A misdemeanor. So is the same conduct by a person under 17 with someone at least 9 but under 17.
Who handles this in Illinois: Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Lawyer Finder; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Illinois directory.
A gap of five years or more, and younger children, are charged under other sections with heavier penalties not covered here. A charge, or the worry of one, is a question for a licensed Illinois attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- 720 ILCS 5/11-1.50 — Criminal sexual abuse
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Illinois attorney.