Does the age of consent for 12-15 allow for a gap greater than 4 years?

The age of consent laws are designed to protect minors from exploitation and abuse, setting a legal age at which an individual can consent to sexual activity. In many jurisdictions, including Delaware, the laws differentiate between minors and adults. For individuals aged 12 to 15, the general guidelines specify that there cannot be a gap of more than four years between the older partner and the minor.

When the answer indicates that it is "False" that a gap greater than four years is allowed, it emphasizes that such age differences could lead to legal repercussions for the older individual. If someone over the age of consent engages in sexual activity with a minor that exceeds the permissible age difference, this could be considered a criminal offense regardless of consent from the minor.

This response aligns with established laws to ensure the protection of minors in circumstances of sexual relationships, which can often lead to significant power imbalances. Thus, the laws are constructed to minimize the risk of exploitation by imposing strict limits on the age differences allowed in consensual scenarios.