In New York, the legal age of consent for sexual activity is 17 years old. This means that anyone who engages in sexual activity with a person under 17 can be charged with statutory rape, even if the sexual activity was consensual. It is important to note that the age of consent in New York is not the same as adulthood. Even at 17, the individual is still a minor in the eyes of the federal government, and still can’t vote, enlist in the military, or serve on a jury. Furthermore, New York does not have a close-in-age exemption, commonly known as "Romeo and Juliet laws," which means that it is possible for two individuals, both under the age of 17, who consensually and willingly engage in sexual activities to be prosecuted for statutory rape. However, prosecution for consensual underage sexual activities between minors is rare.