Tag : State Laws

Child Marriage in America: An Interim Solution Pending a Total Ban

Author: Raquel Wildes Genet

Publication: August 2019

This article provides legal and historical background on the state of laws allowing for child marriage in the United States, and goes on to examine the arguments for and against eliminating marriage under age 18 without exceptions. The author makes recommendations for policy changes, taking into account both protective measures and perceived political feasibility.

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Criminal Laws Addressing Forced Marriage in the United States

Author: Tahirih Justice Center

Original Publication: July 2013

Updated: September 2022

This document provides an overview of state criminal codes that address forced marriage in the United States, including those of California, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, Virginia, and West Virginia, as well as Washington DC and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It also provides information on Massachusetts, Michigan, and Minnesota’s laws addressing abduction for the purpose of marriage.

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