Prosecuting kids for ‘sexting’ – r u serious?
February 13th, 2009
[Youths called to 'sexting' hearing]
Why are prosecutors wasting their time on this? Why isn’t this left to the parents and the school to handle instead?
I understand that sometimes you have to make an example of some people in order to send a message to the general public. This however, is teaching no one anything. These are children texting a picture of a classmate who has one of her breasts exposed. If we had cell phones when we were their age, we would all be doing the same thing but instead, we passed around playboys.
The school should be banning texting in class. They could suspend the kids involved. The parents of the children (including the girl ‘victim’) should punish the children and be teaching them that this type of behavior is not acceptable and can seriously land them in trouble when they’re older and can do serious harm to a person’s reputation and future. The prosecutors – well, they should spend their time going after real criminals and real child pornographers and molestors.
I highly doubt that this is what the legislature intended when they passed the law on child pornography.
**Update
[Teens Accused of Distributing Topless Photos of Classmate]
Are they going to be charged too? These two unrelated events concerns me and should concern any parent. But again, isn’t it going too far to prosecute these kids as distributors of child pornography when they are children themselves? Are we going to tarnish these kids’ future by requiring them to register as sex offenders?!?
I agree that this is ridiculous. I don’t understand how being naked = sexual act.
This is a serious matter and needs to be addressed. The children need to be made to understand that the conduct was not appropriate, and is criminal. I hope the DA handles this properly and makes sure that all involved (including the victim) understand the errors in their ways and receive a proper punishment, focused on learning the errors of their ways and not jeopardizing their futures due to a bad decision made at a young age.
The legislature intended to protect children from being photographed in this manner. When the statutes were written I do not think cell phones and digital cameras existed. At that time children did not have the ability to take and develop photographs of this nature.
I’m a very informed and involved mom. It’s almost as if boys are taking the blame for alot of this. I have busted my son and his friends doing this and believe me there’s plenty of girls ‘freely’ sending their pics around. Most parents think “not my child, their a good kid”. My boys are athletic, A students but their still stupid kids.
well, i completely agree with your opinion maynardmom. so yeah more power to you. if the chicks wanna send your son naked pics then by all means “download those pics guys!”
true there are nudist colonies also located all around the word.