Dear kalagirl,

Many teens worry about the legality of age differences in relationships. If you do not have any kind of sexual contact with your boyfriend, you are probably not at legal risk. All states have laws governing the age of consent — the age at which a person is considered to be old enough to agree to have sex.

People above the age of consent who have sex with people below the age of consent can be charged with rape even if younger people say they were willing because according to the law, they aren't old enough to give consent. This is referred to as "statutory rape," which is a crime that can be punished with a jail sentence for the older person.

The age of consent is different in each state. Some states have double standards and set different ages for girls and guys, or for straight teens and gay teens. Call the office of the attorney general in your state to find out what the laws are there.

Very often, the difference in maturity between a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old can be significant. Relationships tend to be a lot healthier when the partners are equals. To see if you have equality working for you even though there's an age difference, take the self-awareness test.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.