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21 Colum. L. Rev. 144 (1921)
Seduction as a Crime

handle is hein.journals/clr21 and id is 168 raw text is: SEDUCTION AS A CRIME Seduction, in its criminal aspects, is a matter to which the attention of students of criminal law, of comparative legislation, and of sociology may be directed with profit. As a crime, it is peculiar in that, in several jurisdictions, the defendant may prevent his being punished by marrying the woman in the case even after a verdict of guilty has been returned against him. As a study of comparative legislation, it is of interest in revealing the utter lack of uni- formity among jurisdictions whose social conditions are essentially the same. To the student of sociology, it presents a perplexing problem as to what the ideal enactment on the subject should em- body. It is now thirty-eight years since an article on this subject appeared in the Criminal Law Magazine, volume three (1882). Hence, a re-examination of the statutory provisions and of some of the most significant decisions on the subject may be of interest. I. STATUTORY PROVISIONS Of the fifty jurisdictions comprising the forty-eight states of the Union, Alaska and the District of Columbia, thirteen have no statu- tory provisions for the criminal prosecution of seduction as such.' In the other thirty-seven jurisdictions in which seduction is a crime have statutes covering this matter. 2 Seduction Defined. Subject to the limitations and exceptions to be noted and discussed hereafter, seduction as a crime may be defined as the act of a male person in having intercourse with a woman of chaste character under promise of marriage, or by the use 1Del., Fla., Ida., La., Me., Md., Mass., Nev., N. H., Tenn., Utah, Vt., and W. Va. 'Ala. Criminal Code (1907) § 7776; Alaska Comp. Laws (1913) § 2003; Ariz. Penal Code (1913) § 239; Ark. Stat. (Kirby, 1904) § 2043-2044 (Statutes 1916, § 2216-2218); Cal. Penal Code (Deering, 1909) § 268, 269; Colo. Ann. Stat. (Gabriel, 1912) § 1900; Conn. Gent. Stat. (1918) § 63i8; D. Col. Code (Torbert, 1919) § 873; Ga. 6 Ann. Code (Park, 1914) § 378, 379, p. 251-53; Ill. 2 Ann. Stat. (J. & A., 1913) c. 38 (Criminal Code) § 3936; Ind. 1 Ann. Stat. (Burns, 1914) § 2120, 2354; Iowa Comp. Code (1919) § 8610-12; Kan. Gent. Stat. (McIntosh, 1915) § 3397; Ky. I Stat. (Carroll, 1915) § 1214; Mich. Comp. Laws (1915) § 15468; Minn. Gen. Stat. (1913) § 8662; Miss. Ann. Code (Hemingway, 1917) § 1108; Mo. 2 Rev. Stat. (1909) § 44/8; Mont. 2 Rev. Code (1907) § 8344; Neb. Rev. Stat. (1913) § 8793; N. J. 2 Comp. Stat. (1910) p. 1761; N. Mex. Ann. Stat. (1915) § 1499; N. Y. Cons. Laws (1909) c. 40 (Penal Law) Art. 195, § 2175-77; N. C. 2 Rev. Laws (Pell. 1908) § 3354 (Jerome's Crim. Code § 1044); N. D. 2 Comp. Laws (1913) § 9575, 9576; Ohio, 6 Ann. Genl. Code (P. & A. 1912) § 13.026, 13,671; Okla. 1 Rev. Laws (1910) § 2423, 2424; Rev. Laws (1915) § 2424a; Ore. 1 Laws (Lord, 1910) § 2076; Pa. 1 Purdon's Digest (13th ed. 1905) § 460, p. 1010; R. I. Gent. Laws (1909) p. 1276; S. C. 2 Code of Laws (1912) Criminal Code § 389; S. D. Rev. Code (1919) § 4103, 4104; Tex. Complete Stat. (1920) Penal Law. Art. 1447-1451; Va. Ann. Code (Pollarld, 1904) § 3677, 3679, 2 (Pollard, Supp. 1910) § 4410, 4413; Wash. Code (Remington, 1915) § 2441; Wis. 2 Stat. (1919) § 4581; Wyo. Comp. Stat. (Mullen, 1910) § 5907.