Connecticut
Connecticut Age of Consent Laws: Statutes, Penalties and Reporting
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited September 29, 2026). · 4 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Connecticut's general age-based criminal protections for minors run to age 16 under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-71, and most of the structure is tiered by the child's age and a required age difference. Persons 16 and 17 are protected by guardian, coach, instructor, school-employee and position-of-power provisions, and by section 53a-83b, which makes exchanging anything of value for sexual conduct with any person under 18 a class B felony (class A if the minor is under 15).
To report a concern: if a child is in immediate danger, call 911. For Connecticut, the Department of Children and Families page says: "Emergent: Call DCF's Careline at 1-800-842-2288 (TDD: 1-800-624-5518)." The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453, call or text) can help you figure out where and how to report. Online exploitation can be reported to the NCMEC CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678.
Information last verified on 2026-09-28. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer. It is legal-reference information, not legal advice.
This page covers Connecticut's criminal statutes on sexual offenses involving minors. Federal law is summarized on the age of consent laws by state hub. Each cite links to the official Connecticut General Assembly site.
This page describes the main age-based sexual offense statutes. Other Connecticut statutes also protect minors, and one of them can apply even where none of the offenses described here does.
How Connecticut law protects minors by age
Connecticut's sexual assault offenses in Chapter 952 depend on the age of the other person, how much older the actor is, and whether the conduct is sexual intercourse or sexual contact.
Under 13
Section 53a-70(a)(2) makes it sexual assault in the first degree to engage in sexual intercourse with a person who "is under thirteen years of age and the actor is more than two years older than such person." For sexual contact, section 53a-73a(a)(1)(A) covers a person under 13 where the actor is more than two years older, as sexual assault in the fourth degree.
Ages 13 to 15
Section 53a-71(a)(1) makes it sexual assault in the second degree to engage in sexual intercourse with a person "thirteen years of age or older but under sixteen years of age" where "the actor is more than three years older than such other person." For sexual contact, section 53a-73a(a)(1)(B) covers a person 13 or older but under 15 where the actor is more than three years older.
Under 16: risk of injury to a minor
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-21(a)(2) separately covers any person who "has contact with the intimate parts" of a child under 16, or subjects a child under 16 to contact with the intimate parts of that person, "in a sexual and indecent manner likely to impair the health or morals of such child." This provision has no age-difference element. A violation is a class B felony, and if the child is under 13, five years of the sentence may not be suspended or reduced.
Summary table
| Other person's age | Conduct | Actor condition | Offense | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 13 | Intercourse | More than 2 years older | First degree | 53a-70(a)(2) |
| Under 13 | Contact | More than 2 years older | Fourth degree | 53a-73a(a)(1)(A) |
| 13 to 15 | Intercourse | More than 3 years older | Second degree | 53a-71(a)(1) |
| 13 or 14 | Contact | More than 3 years older | Fourth degree | 53a-73a(a)(1)(B) |
| Under 16 | Contact with intimate parts in a sexual and indecent manner | No age-difference element | Risk of injury to a minor | 53-21(a)(2) |
| Under 18 | Intercourse / contact | Guardian or person responsible for supervision; coach or intensive instructor; actor 20 or older in a position of power, authority or supervision | Second degree / fourth degree | 53a-71(a)(4), (9), (10); 53a-73a(a)(1)(D), (7), (8) |
| Enrolled student | Intercourse / contact | Actor is a school employee at the student's school or district | Second degree / fourth degree | 53a-71(a)(8), 53a-73a(a)(6) |
| Under 18 | Exchanging or agreeing to exchange anything of value for sexual conduct, or soliciting it | No age-difference element | Commercial sexual abuse of a minor (class B; class A if under 15) | 53a-83b |
Age-difference provisions
In Connecticut's offenses, the age differences (more than two years for a person under 13, more than three years for a person 13 to 15) are written into the offense definitions as elements of the offense. The statute describes each offense as applying where "the actor is more than" that many years older than the other person. Section 53-21(a)(2), the risk-of-injury provision for sexual contact with a child under 16, contains no age-difference element.
Positions of trust and authority
Under section 53a-71(a), second-degree sexual assault also covers these actors: the guardian of a person under 18, or a person "otherwise responsible for the general supervision of such person's welfare"; a coach in an athletic activity or a person who provides "intensive, ongoing instruction" to a recipient who is a secondary school student in a secondary school setting or under 18; an actor 20 or older who "stands in a position of power, authority or supervision" over a person under 18 through professional, legal, occupational or volunteer status and the person's participation in a program or activity; and a school employee where the other person is a student enrolled in the school where the actor works or in a school under the jurisdiction of the board of education that employs the actor. The school-employee provision states no age ceiling for the student.
Penalties
Grades come from the offense sections, and ranges from section 53a-35a (imprisonment) and section 53a-41 and 53a-42 (fines).
| Offense | Grade | Range as stated |
|---|---|---|
| First degree, victim under 13 (53a-70(a)(2)) | Class A felony | 10 to 25 years, fine up to $20,000; the sentence must be at least ten years of imprisonment, or imprisonment plus special parole totaling at least ten years (53a-70(b)(3)); 10 years of the sentence may not be suspended or reduced if the victim is under 10, and 5 years if the victim is under 16 |
| Second degree (53a-71) | Class B felony if the victim is under 16; class C felony otherwise | Class B: 1 to 20 years, fine up to $15,000. Class C: 1 to 10 years, fine up to $10,000. Nine months of the sentence may not be suspended or reduced |
| Fourth degree (53a-73a) | Class D felony if the victim is under 16; class A misdemeanor otherwise | Class D: not more than 5 years, fine up to $5,000. Class A misdemeanor: not more than one year, fine up to $2,000 |
| Risk of injury, sexual contact with a child under 16 (53-21(a)(2)) | Class B felony | 1 to 20 years, fine up to $15,000; five years may not be suspended or reduced if the child is under 13 |
Sex offender registration
Connecticut's registration statutes (chapter 969) cover risk of injury to a minor under 53-21(a)(2), first-degree sexual assault under 53a-70(a)(2), second-degree sexual assault under 53a-71(a)(1), (4), (8) and (10) and (9)(B), and fourth-degree sexual assault under 53a-73a. Registration is for ten years from release into the community, or for life for a violation of 53a-70(a)(2) or where the person has a prior conviction of a covered offense (section 54-251).
Section 54-251(b) also provides that a court may exempt a person convicted under 53a-71(a)(1) who was under 19 at the time of the offense, if registration is not required for public safety. This affects registration only and does not change whether the conduct is an offense.
Recent changes
The research for this page found no enacted 2024 to 2026 change to sections 53a-70, 53a-71 or 53a-73a. The 2026 Supplement to Chapter 952 lists no change to those sections, and the history lines show the last amendments to 53a-71 in 2013 and to 53a-73a in 2023. A 2026 bill (sHB 5477) touching sections 53a-71 and 53a-73a was not enacted; its last recorded action was on April 2, 2026. Public Act 26-96, effective October 1, 2026, changes registration address-verification procedures and adds an affirmative defense to failure to register; it does not change the offenses, the registration periods or the exemption described on this page.
Where to report
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. The Connecticut Department of Children and Families lists its Careline as 1-800-842-2288 (TDD: 1-800-624-5518). The national Childhelp hotline and the NCMEC CyberTipline are listed in the box near the top of this page.
Disclaimer
This page is general legal information about Connecticut criminal statutes as verified on 2026-09-28. It is not legal advice. Statutes change, summaries simplify, and the statute text controls. Anyone with a specific situation should consult a lawyer licensed in Connecticut.
Related articles
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Connecticut's school-employee provision cover students of every age?
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-71(a)(8) covers a student enrolled in a school where the actor works or a school under the jurisdiction of the board of education that employs the actor. The provision states no age ceiling for the student.
What does 'position of power, authority or supervision' mean?
Section 53a-71(a)(10) applies where the actor is 20 or older and stands in a position of power, authority or supervision over a person under 18 by virtue of the actor's professional, legal, occupational or volunteer status and the person's participation in a program or activity.
Where can the statute text be read?
Each section cited on this page links to the Connecticut General Assembly's official chapter of the General Statutes. The statute text controls over any summary.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Connecticut General Statutes, Title 53a (Penal Code), Chapter 952
§ 53a-71Sexual assault in the second degree: Class C or B felony.In force
(a) A person is guilty of sexual assault in the second degree when such person engages in sexual intercourse with another person and: (1) Such other person is thirteen years of age or older but under sixteen years of age and the actor is more than three years older than such other person; or (2) such other person is impaired because of mental disability or disease to the extent that such other person is unable to consent to such sexual intercourse; or (3) such other person is physically helpless; or (4) such other person is less than eighteen years old and the actor is such person's guardian or otherwise responsible for the general supervision of such person's welfare; or (5) such other person is in custody of law or detained in a hospital or other institution and the actor has supervisory or disciplinary authority over such other person; or (6) the actor is a psychotherapist and such other person is (A) a patient of the actor and the sexual intercourse occurs during the psychotherapy session, (B) a patient or former patient of the actor and such patient or former patient is emotionally dependent upon the actor, or (C) a patient or former patient of the actor and the sexual…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at cga.ct.gov
§ 53a-70Sexual assault in the first degree: Class B or A felony.In force
(a) A person is guilty of sexual assault in the first degree when such person (1) compels another person to engage in sexual intercourse by the use of force against such other person or a third person, or by the threat of use of force against such other person or against a third person which reasonably causes such person to fear physical injury to such person or a third person, or (2) engages in sexual intercourse with another person and such other person is under thirteen years of age and the actor is more than two years older than such person, or (3) commits sexual assault in the second degree as provided in section 53a-71 and in the commission of such offense is aided by two or more other persons actually present, or (4) engages in sexual intercourse with another person and such other person is mentally incapacitated to the extent that such other person is unable to consent to such sexual intercourse.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at cga.ct.gov
§ 53a-73aSexual assault in the fourth degree: Class A misdemeanor or class D felony.In force
(a) A person is guilty of sexual assault in the fourth degree when: (1) Such person subjects another person to sexual contact who is (A) under thirteen years of age and the actor is more than two years older than such other person, or (B) thirteen years of age or older but under fifteen years of age and the actor is more than three years older than such other person, or (C) physically helpless, or (D) less than eighteen years old and the actor is such other person's guardian or otherwise responsible for the general supervision of such other person's welfare, or (E) in custody of law or detained in a hospital or other institution and the actor has supervisory or disciplinary authority over such other person; or (2) such person subjects another person to sexual contact without such other person's consent; or (3) such person engages in sexual contact with a dead human body; or (4) such person is a psychotherapist and subjects another person to sexual contact who is (A) a patient of the actor and the sexual contact occurs during the psychotherapy session, or (B) a patient or former patient of the actor and such patient or former patient is emotionally dependent upon the actor, or (C)…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at cga.ct.gov
§ 53a-83bCommercial sexual abuse of a minor: Class B felony.In force
(a) A person is guilty of commercial sexual abuse of a minor when: (1) Such person exchanges anything of value with a minor or third person as compensation for a minor having engaged in sexual conduct with such person; (2) such person exchanges or agrees to exchange anything of value with a minor or a third person pursuant to an understanding that in return the minor will engage in sexual conduct with such person; or (3) such person solicits or requests to engage in sexual conduct with a minor, or any other person that such person reasonably believes to be a minor, in return for anything of value. (b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, commercial sexual abuse of a minor is a class B felony. (c) Commercial sexual abuse of a minor is a class A felony if the minor has not attained fifteen years of age. (d) For purposes of this section, “minor” means a person who has not attained eighteen years of age.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at cga.ct.gov
Connecticut General Statutes, Title 53 (Crimes), Chapter 939
§ 53-21Injury or risk of injury to, or impairing morals of, children. Sale of children.In forcecited in 2 of our articles
(a) Any person who (1) wilfully or unlawfully causes or permits any child under the age of sixteen years to be placed in such a situation that the life or limb of such child is endangered, the health of such child is likely to be injured or the morals of such child are likely to be impaired, or does any act likely to impair the health or morals of any such child, or (2) has contact with the intimate parts, as defined in section 53a-65, of a child under the age of sixteen years or subjects a child under sixteen years of age to contact with the intimate parts of such person, in a sexual and indecent manner likely to impair the health or morals of such child, or (3) permanently transfers the legal or physical custody of a child under the age of sixteen years to another person for money or other valuable consideration or acquires or receives the legal or physical custody of a child under the age of sixteen years from another person upon payment of money or other valuable consideration to such other person or a third person, except in connection with an adoption proceeding that complies with the provisions of chapter 803, shall be guilty of (A) a class C felony for a violation of…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at cga.ct.gov
Cited in 905 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Salamon (Supreme Court of Connecticut 2008, 287 Conn. 509)“…6 L. Ed. 2d 36 (2006); (2) risk of injury to a child under General Statutes § 53-21; e.g., id., 172-73; (3) manslaughter in…”
- State v. Kulmac (Supreme Court of Connecticut 1994, 230 Conn. 43)“…nd nine counts of risk of injury to a child in violation of General Statutes § 53-21. 6 The defendant appealed from the jud…”
- State v. Spigarolo (Supreme Court of Connecticut 1989, 210 Conn. 359)“…1 (a) (l); 2 and four counts of risk of injury to a minor. General Statutes § 53-21. 3 On March 3, 1986, the defendant app…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Connecticut Sexting Laws: Legal Consequences and Penalties
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Sources and References
- Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 952 (Penal Code: Offenses), sections 53a-70, 53a-71, 53a-73a, 53a-35a, 53a-41, 53a-42(www.cga.ct.gov).gov
- Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 969 (Sex offender registration), sections 54-250 and 54-251(www.cga.ct.gov).gov
- Connecticut Department of Children and Families: Reporting child abuse and neglect(portal.ct.gov).gov
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-21(a)(2)(www.cga.ct.gov).gov