Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: resident ambassador
Pedophilia is when someone wants to have sex with children. This is not okay and is a mental disorder. It is against the law to act on these feelings and do anything sexual with a child. If someone does this, they can go to jail and have to tell people where they live when they get out of jail.
Definition: Pedophilia is a mental disorder where a person is sexually attracted to children. This means they want to have sexual contact with children who have not yet gone through puberty. It is spelled "Paedophilia" in British English. The American Psychological Association (APA) Dictionary of Psychology says that pedophilia is a type of "paraphilia." This means that it is a sexual desire that is not common or normal. People with pedophilia have a strong desire to have sex with children, and this desire does not go away over time.
While having pedophilia is not a crime, acting on it is. Many places have laws that make it illegal to have sexual contact with children. For example, in California, it is a felony to have sexual contact with a child under the age of 14. It is also illegal to possess or distribute sexual images of minors. People who are convicted of these crimes often have to register with the government and their information is made public.
Examples:
These examples show how pedophilia is a mental disorder where a person is sexually attracted to children. They also show how acting on this attraction is illegal and can result in criminal charges.