New Jersey Battles Teen 'Sexting' With Education: Appropriate Punishment?

by SodaHead Living Posted 2011/06/29 17:30:16

Related Topics: Sex, Kids, Sexting, New Jersey, Child Pornography, Crime, students, High School, Teens, Education, Student, Relationship, School, SodaHead, State

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	Yes	48 votes	51%
	No	47 votes	49%

Instead of treating the issue of teen "sexting" as an expellable offense, like California was discussing, New Jersey lawmakers have written a bill that would require sexting students to attend an education program, The New Jersey News Room reports.

The measure would create an educational program as an alternative to prosecution for juveniles who otherwise could be charged with a criminal offense for posting or sending sexually suggestive or sexually explicit photographs. Participants would learn about the potential state and federal legal consequences and penalties for sexting as well as its personal costs – including the effect on relationships, its impact on school life and the loss of future employment opportunities.

The chief legal concern over teen sexting is that it is technically the distribution of child pornography, which is a criminal offense. However, lawmakers do not want to treat these kids as proper criminals.

Sexting, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the practice, is basically the sending of nude or explicit photos of oneself via text.

+10

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Karl 2011/06/29 19:04:39

No

+6
Not a single teen would be paying attention.
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More polls by SodaHead Living

Pretend Sk8ter Chick117 2011/07/05 17:57:22

Yes

+1
but FYI sexting is not just pictures. i would know

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Moejj 2011/07/01 02:53:03

Yes

GASP!

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Edible_toad 2011/06/30 08:44:30

No

+1
As punishment? No.
Should all teens get sexting education? Yes.

When kids as young as 14-15 are being registered sex offenders (usually the guy regardless of age of the other party/who sent the photos) because the have a nude picture of their significant other/peer, something is wrong.
Educate people on the risks of sending nude photos, what the consequences are. I doubt any of these kids thought they'd be registered sex offenders for possessing nude photo of their significant other.
Hence, educate them. If they still wish to do it that's their prerogative.

Whilst their should be punishment, I feel that neither education or registering them sex offenders is appropriate.

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Dimitri 2011/06/30 07:52:44

No

lolwut

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Myrle Hulme 2011/06/30 07:41:16

Yes

Ignorance is bliss

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Stan Kapusta 2011/06/30 06:59:05

No

+1
Have you ever tried to change teenage hormones. Time will cure this. It may be bad but think of what you did as a tennager. It's normal. So stop listening to the California nuts. See where they are at.

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strawberry to Stan Ka... 2011/06/30 23:10:36

I agree.

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sean 2011/06/30 05:30:18

No

+3
California, hmmpf, it figures.

"Sexting" as they put it is bad, BUT punishment is only for the PARENTS to decide, NOT the government!!

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Stan Ka... to sean 2011/06/30 06:55:45

Bravo!

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Korgull to sean 2011/06/30 08:15:36

Sexting bad?

Next you'll be telling me porn is, too!

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sean to Korgull 2011/07/01 02:48:56 (edited)

If the shoe fits. Personally, I kind of sort of find it addicting like cigarettes, an addiction that is hard to get rid of once you start. Personally I think camera phones are stupid to say the least. This is my phone... My Nokia 6590i (with a monochrome screen, few games, FM radio, limited t-zones internet I get limited CNN, not like I care about any of that, its a little convenient) did I mention it gets ridiculously good reception and long battery life, MUAHAHAHA!

but I could settle for this

Who even needs the damn screen...ITS JUST A CELL PHONE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

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Cassie 2011/06/30 05:28:27

No

+1
Ummm.... what is wrong with sexting? They aren't having actual sex... : /

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FUS RO DAH! 2011/06/30 04:37:37

No

+3
It is the parents job to educate teens on sexting.
Also people are making to big of a deal over sexting

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bmeusmc 2011/06/30 04:20:49

Yes

Kids hate school

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strawberry to bmeusmc 2011/06/30 04:49:25

The choice was instead of making "sexting" a crime, New Jersey would rather have an education class on the subject, while California wants to make "sexting" a felony.

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bmeusmc to strawberry 2011/06/30 04:54:20

+1
CA wants to make breathing a felony.

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strawberry to bmeusmc 2011/06/30 05:04:23

I know I have lived in CA for eleven years. I grew up on the East Coast.

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sean to bmeusmc 2011/06/30 05:35:10

+1
LOL.

Pedestrian; "INHALE...EXHALE..."

Police; "Sorry sir you're under arrest for polluting the environment due to excessive exhalation of carbon dioxide emissions."

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aobubbles 2011/06/30 04:04:15

No

shiz happens

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Dogzebra 2011/06/30 02:59:31

No

Too bad you can't acquire STDs while doing it.

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strawberry 2011/06/30 02:35:57

Yes

+2
I don't believe teen "sexting" should be an offense. Most CA laws never make much sense anyway. On the other hand CA is a wacko state, needing more strict laws. Most East Coast State lawmakers always had more common sense. Education is a smarter approach. If teens want to send sexual photographs to each other that is their business. Teenagers are not children. The U.S. is too involved with sexual lives of Americans, let them take care of our economy. Government is so worried about teens sending sexy photographs while they let pedophiles out of prisons. Americans need to mentally grow up about sex.

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Algor. Mortis. - ҎԊǢɬ Physi... 2011/06/30 02:20:22

Yes

But you have to make it relatable to teens

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William Weber 2011/06/30 02:16:33

No

+1
I think its no different from kids planing doctor.its different when 2 teens sext eachother than when an adult and a teen sext eachother.The first is a result of normal curiosity,while the latter is harmful.

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strawberry to William... 2011/06/30 03:02:56

I agree with you, but the question would be yes, education is smarter than making "sexting" a criminal offense. Teens should not be in the same category as child pornography. The media sells sex everywhere.

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Adakin Valorem 2011/06/30 01:27:58

Yes

"The chief legal concern over teen sexting is that it is technically the distribution of child pornography, which is a criminal offense. However, lawmakers do not want to treat these kids as proper criminals." - Soda Pop

I say, THROW THE BOOK AT 'EM. Put those criminal children UNDER the jail!... Life in prison for doing what Weiner did... Lawmakers need to prosicute those criminals to the FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.

After all, what better way is there for the stupid laws to get changed than to strictly enforce them?

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ZB to Adakin ... 2011/06/30 02:08:13

+2
Sure. And while we're at it, lets raise taxes to pay for the jails to hold all those kids. You need to look at the big picture. Of course, looking at your spelling I shouldn't pick too much. Are you sure you didn't spend time in one of those jails?

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strawberry to ZB 2011/06/30 02:48:05

I agree with you. California can't hold hard core criminals but now want to put teens in prisons. America has a backward attitude about sex. Child porn is not what these teens are doing, they are not children. We have pedophiles let loose from prisons, a good portion of our own government contain perverts. Teenagers need responsible sex education.

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ZB to strawberry 2011/06/30 02:52:45

+1
Amen. Couldn't have said it better. Actually I don't think I could have said it even close.

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strawberry to Adakin ... 2011/06/30 02:41:14

Why did you reply yes, that education is a better way than criminal.?

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Adakin ... to strawberry 2011/07/27 01:47:57

Strawberry, please look again at what I said: "what better way is there for the stupid laws to get changed than to strictly enforce them?"

Decriminalizing such activity would be the ideal. But sometimes if you take the law to its extreme, people will quickly see that the benefit derived from strict enforsement is far less than the cost incurred by those picking up the tab.

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strawberry to Adakin ... 2011/07/27 05:25:53 (edited)

This is not child pornography and your idea of putting all these teens in jail is idiotic. You sound like some dictator. Use some reasoning. The laws are not enforcing real child pornography, or pedophiles, let them deal with that. These are not children doing this, stop be so narrow minded. Americans freak out at the word sex, yet can't wait to go to strip clubs, prostitutes, porno books. Teens have to sexually physically, responsibly, mentally mature.

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sarahjev0 2011/06/30 01:16:23

Yes

+1
i don't see punishment a good term to use..in fact a teen would go to discover things especially those related to sex ..plus there's a lack of teachin i guess further what the matter of sextin if they can have it in real anyway..waste of time

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Greg 2011/06/30 01:10:10

Yes

+1
Are you kidding? What's the worst possible consequence for a teen? MORE SCHOOL!

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Redneck Gal 2011/06/30 00:56:47

No

+2
Education is a waste of money when trying to control hormones. Hormones will always win. Case in point, Sex Ed. Sex ed does not stop kids from having sex if that's what they want to do.

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strawberry to Redneck... 2011/06/30 02:54:50

I don't agree with you that sex education is a waste of time, but do agree with you the laws of nature take over. Teens are not children, they have to be allowed to mentally and sexually mature with guidance. Living in other countries I found teens much more mature, and other countries have less problems with pedophiles and perverts. The U.S. is turning our youth into a bunch of criminals.

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Redneck... to strawberry 2011/06/30 05:17:47

I believe sex education and sexting rules should be governed and taught from home, it shouldn't be left up to the schools. Family has a much bigger influence on the child than the schools.

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Joanna the Great 2011/06/30 00:54:04

Yes

+2
This whole sexting thing is stupid. They should re-write the policy on child porn to deal with the issues of sexting. a kid sending a naked picture of him/herself is not that big of a deal. without cell phones, they would just be naked in person.

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strawberry to Joanna ... 2011/06/30 02:58:23

When will American parents stop treating their teens as five year olds. Concentration should be on pedophiles, and so much real child pornography going on under the nose of our lawmakers.

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Joanna ... to strawberry 2011/06/30 19:46:45

+1
I know! let them send their naked pictures, at least it doesn't get them pregnant. Teenagers are horny, they're gonna fool around, stop making such a big deal out of it and focus on real problems.

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Anonymous 2011/06/30 00:49:33

No

+2
i dont see anything wrong with sexting UNLESS an 18+ year old would start sexting to somebody under the age of 18. if they are both minors then i dont see a problem.

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