Q. Tamika has been dating Kurt for six months. Since Tamika found out she was pregnant, Kurt has not been acting like himself. He loses his temper very quickly and has hit her the last several times that they have been alone. Tamika has asked Kurt not to come around her anymore but Kurt keeps showing up and insisting that she go home with him. Can Tamika do anything about this behavior?
A. Yes. Tamika can file an application for a protective order. Protective orders are court orders that require one person to stay away from another. The police can arrest the person who breaks this order.
Q. Laura is 16 years old and Steve is 20 years old. They have been dating for 9 months. Steve is thinking about having sex with Laura. Steve tells his friends this and they tell him that having sex with Laura is statutory rape. Steve thinks his friends are wrong. Who is correct?
A. Steve's friends are correct. If Steve has sex with Laura, it would be considered statutory rape under Texas law because Steve is at least three years older than Laura. He has no defense to any possible prosecutions. In Texas , a 17 year-old is allowed to consent to sexual contact. Her partner can be of any age except for three years younger than she is. Even if Laura agrees to have sex with Steve , Texas law considers her too young to consent to have sex as she is still considered a child because she is not 17.
Q. Brandi is 16 years old and is thinking of running away from home. She would like to live with her aunt and uncle. Her aunt and uncle would love to have her but her parents will not allow it. If Brandi runs away from home to live with her aunt and uncle, can Brandi's aunt and uncle face criminal charges?
A. Yes. Brandi's aunt and uncle may face criminal charges for harboring a runaway if Brandi's parents report her as a runaway. However, before Brandi runs away from home, her aunt and uncle can file for legal guardianship of Brandi, and then a judge would decide if it would be better for Brandi to live with her aunt and uncle and not her parents.
Q. Elizabeth has a 6-month-old son and lives in an abusive home. She is 16 years old and has nowhere to go. Can Elizabeth and her son check into a shelter?
A. Yes. Elizabeth may stay without her parent's consent if she gives consent for herself and her son.
