{"id":376257,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:41","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/south-carolina-law\/south-carolina-prohibited-consensual-sexual-activity-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-06-13T12:27:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T17:27:34","slug":"south-carolina-prohibited-consensual-sexual-activity-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/south-carolina-law\/south-carolina-prohibited-consensual-sexual-activity-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"South Carolina Prohibited Consensual Sexual Activity Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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South Carolina Prohibited Consensual Sexual Activity Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Everyone knows that nonconsensual sexual conduct, like rape and sexual assault, is illegal. You might not know, however, that you can get in trouble for certain consensual sexual activities, as well.<\/p>\r\n

Continue reading for a breakdown of the laws in South Carolina against certain consensual sexual activities.<\/p>\r\n

Sexual Activities Laws<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Most people assume that their sexual lives are their own business. Why would the government want to regulate what people do behind closed doors? The truth is that, aside from public indecency that occurs in a public place, most state consensual sex laws<\/a> regulate private relations.<\/p>\r\n

These regulations reflect the social norms of a particular jurisdiction, which is why these laws tend to change over the years. Some states still have old consensual sexual activity laws on the books, such as laws prohibiting adultery. Most law enforcement agencies don\u2019t enforce these laws.<\/p>\r\n

South Carolina law still makes it illegal to engage in sodomy even though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled anti-sodomy laws unconstitutional in Lawrence v. Texas<\/i><\/a> (<\/i>2003). South Carolina state law also prohibits prostitution, lewdness, and indecent exposure.<\/p>\r\n

South Carolina\u2019s Statutory Rape Laws<\/h2>\r\n

Every state has laws prohibiting adults from engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor. These are referred to as statutory rape laws<\/a>. South Carolina has criminal laws forbidding these relationships as well.<\/p>\r\n

South Carolina law refers to statutory rape as sexual criminal contact with a minor. Since the legal age of consent in South Carolina is 16, the statutory rape laws target people over the age of 18 who engage in sexual intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex with someone under the age of 16.<\/p>\r\n

First-degree sexual contact with a minor is the most severe of these offenses. They include two types of cases:<\/p>\r\n