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 the age of 17 can be charged with statutory rape, even if the sexual activity was consensual. It is important to note that New York does not have a close-in-age exemption, also known as a "Romeo and Juliet" law. This 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. It is also important to note that the legal age of consent in New York is not the same as adulthood, and even at 17, the individual is still a minor in the eyes of the federal government.