At 17 he is kid himself not an adult - the trend in our nation to prosecute consensual sexual relationships between consenting kids and teens under statutory rape laws is insane and unjust. No offense intended to the victims and families of violent and sexually dangerous persons, but there is a rapidly growing tragedy in our nation as increasingly reported in local and national articles such as this one, where otherwise innocent and non-criminal kids/teens/young adults potentially end up with a life of ruin in the aftermath as a registered sex offender for consensual peer sex and sexual activity (see Economist Aug 6 2009 - America’s Unjust Sex Laws). I am not condoning sexual promiscuity, and I agree that we want our children; and teens and adults for that matter, to be protected from violent and sexually dangerous persons. But current and pending sex offender legislation and laws must be changed so that they can only be used to prosecute violent and sexually dangerous persons; not consensual underage and young adult consensual sexual activity. You may find this difficult to believe, I did at first, but there are kids as young as 8 on the sex offender registry for “playing doctor”; no violence involved, kids as young as 12 for pinching another kid on the butt just joking around, and a long list of teens and young adults for “consensual sexual activity” with a boyfriend/girlfriend, and men for public urination on the golf course. Again, I am not condoning sexual promiscuity, but what was once sexual exploration between consenting teens left to parenting is now grounds for potential incarceration followed by “life time registration as a sex offender” as young as 14; both boys and girls. And Government sanctioned Sex Offender "Treatment" Programs, including treatment for juveniles as young as 12; and including cases of consensual sexual activity among peers, are barbaric and abusive!! These programs include the use of: Plethysmographs - a metalized ring is strapped around a “male” juvenile’s genitals (there is no such devise for females) and they are forced to listen to/watch pornography including deviant sexual activity such as violent rape! This barbaric and abusive device and recordings are designed to measure any signs of arousal and the juvenile is then forced to try and masturbate afterwards. Masturbatory Satiation – juvenile males as young as 12 are forced to masturbate over and over and over while listening to/viewing pornographic images/recordings, including deviant sexual activity such as violent rape. Arousal Reconditioning – Originally developed in the early to mid-1900s to convert homosexuals to heterosexuals. Attempts to eliminate sexual feelings by pairing them with boredom, pain, or unpleasantness. In effect, assumes that sexuality can be changed through “punishment” such as electric shock therapy. This reminiscent “witch hunt” insanity must be stopped before an entire generation of kids/teens/young adults are prosecuted and registered as sex offenders the rest of their lives! The current legislation, although very well intended, has seriously failed the true victims of violent sexual assault crimes and their families! And, it has resulted in what unintended consequences for potentially >95% of all youth and young adults who statistically could be prosecuted and convicted as sex offenders. Please, join in the growing effort to immediately bring an end to this insanity before an entire generation is lost and registered as sex offenders. Readers, please petition your elected officials and government for the provisions regarding juveniles to be amended and taken out. Legislators, please begin immediate changes to sex offender legislation to stop this insanity!