Prosecutions for incestuous relationships

[Niceguy2000]

I just read another fictional story here concerning a brother and sister caught in the act (and videoed) by the evil stepfather. He threatens to go to the police.

Question:
Yes, we know it's illegal.
But how often is it really prosecuted when no one is underage (and began when everyone was of legal age) and it's consensual?

I can only recall one case that made the national news a few years back, when a murder was involved.

Even if the percentage is a fraction of a percent, that's still a lot of people out there.

I'm sure police don't go out if their way looking for cases, and even if found, perhaps DAs aren't quick to go to trial if everyone is adult and consenting. Like the police, they have bigger fish to fry.

Or, do the media simply ignore it, thinking such cases are unseemly?
(I'm certain that most underage cases never get published for obvious privacy issues).

I would wager that the files of social workers and CPS offices know of cases where the parents are related and and long as the kids are okay, they overlook it..better kids in a stable household, even if their parents are family...than breaking up the family and putting the children "in the system".

Just curious.

 

[Britva415]

It's usually prosecuted as an additional charge to a case which is already about statutorily nonconsensual sex.

When both people are adult and consenting, there is no victim who would press charges, and the prosecution would not get involved.

 

[Niceguy2000]

The state can press charges...a separate victim is not needed...like a murder, riot, civil rights cases, etc.

 

[Britva415]

The state can press charges...a separate victim is not needed...like a murder, riot, civil rights cases, etc.

What I’m saying is:

They don’t.

Partly because without the victim’s cooperation and testimony, they know a conviction is unlikely.

 

[Veeweewee]

There are occasionally reports in the news here in Australia which always makes us nervous. Balanced against that we've know of lots of relationships, both consensual and non-consensual over the years that have never been prosecuted.