what is the age of consent in wisconsin

The general age of consent in Wisconsin is 18 years old for sexual intercourse.

However, Wisconsin law makes an important distinction between different kinds of sexual activity and ages.

• People who are 18 or older can legally consent to sexual intercourse and other sexual activity, as long as that consent is voluntary and they are mentally capable (not coerced, intoxicated, etc.).

• Teens who are 16 or 17 can legally consent to certain forms of sexual contact (touching of intimate parts for sexual purposes), but not to sexual intercourse in the same way adults can.

• Sexual contact or intercourse with anyone under 16 is treated as sexual assault of a child and is a serious felony offense under Wisconsin’s “crimes against children” statutes.

Because these laws are strict, and details can matter a lot (exact ages, type of conduct, close‑in‑age situations, positions of authority, etc.), anyone facing a real‑life situation should speak with a qualified Wisconsin criminal defense attorney rather than relying only on general information.