Recent studies indicate that at least half of all babies born to minor women are fathered by adult men.1 In addition, there is a widespread perception that these young mothers account for the large increase in welfare caseloads over the last 25 years. As a result, a growing number of policymakers are embracing the notion that adolescent pregnancy rates can be lowered and welfare costs reduced if states more rigorously enforce statutory rape laws prohibiting sex ual intercourse between adults and minors.

In the last year, several states have taken steps to punish men who violate these laws. Meanwhile, the new federal welfare law urges that ‘states and local jurisdictions…aggressively enforce statutory rape laws’ and requires state welfare plans to outline an education and training program for law enforcement officials, counselors and educators that focuses on ‘the problem of statutory rape.’ It also directs the attorney general to implement a program to study the connection between statutory rape and adolescent pregnancy, with particular attention to ‘predatory older men.’2

Concerns about statutory rape are particularly acute in regard to the youngest adolescents. Although relatively small proportions of 13-14-year-olds have had intercourse,* those who become sexually active at an early age are especially likely […]