Illinois - The age of consent in Illinois is 17. It is illegal to have sex with someone under the age of 18 if you are more than 5 years older than the minor. This is called "Romeo and Juliet" law, which serves to reduce or eliminate the penalty of the crime in cases where the couple's age difference is minor and the sexual contact is only considered rape because of the lack of legally-recognized consent.

Far too common are cases where a 16 year olds and 18 year olds are in consentual sexually active relationships and parents of the minors find out and press charges against the 18 year olds.

I personally think the 5 year difference should be reconsidered and changed to 2 years, but this should be considered in cases of consentual sex cases.