In the state of Texas I'm 16 pregnant my boyfriend is 21 can my dad send him to jail?

Answer 1

[Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer.]

You are older than 14 but below the age of consent in Texas, which is 17; and there is more than a three year gap in your ages. Your father cannot "send" your boyfriend to jail, but your boyfriend may face charges of "sexual assault" under the Texas Penal Code. Your boyfriend's offence, known as "statutory rape," is not prosecuted very often in Texas when the child/victim is older than 14 years of age and the sex is consensual. Still, the laws prohibiting any form of sex with children under the age of 17 are on the books, and it is up to the prosecutor to decide whether or not he or she wants to go forward with such charges in any specific case. Like most states, Texas has statutes requiring mandatory reporting of child abuse.

Anyone who has reason to believe that a child's health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse must notify the proper authorities.

In addition, the statute specifically requires reporting by "professionals" who suspect that a child may have been abused.

"Professionals" are defined as people who have direct contact with children in their duties for which a license or certification is required: they are licensed or certified by the state or are employees of a facility licensed, certified, or operated by the state.

That group includes teachers, nurses, doctors, day-care employees, employees of a clinic or health care facility that provides reproductive services. In the situation that you describe, reporting can be made to any local or state law enforcement agency.