NJ- New tack in fight against teen 'sexting

7-21-2009 New Jersey:

Juveniles who send sexually explicit photos on their cellular phones should be educated, not prosecuted, a state lawmaker argues.

Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden) has introduced three bills to curb the practice, called "sexting." The package is the latest in a wave of state legislation designed to help young users of the internet and electronic devices to avoid sex predators, bullies, stalkers and other dangerous contacts.

"Young people need to understand the ramifications of their actions, but they shouldn't necessarily be treated as criminals," Lampitt, said yesterday in a news release. "We need to create a path that placed education and forgiveness before arrest and prosecution."

One in five teenagers have sent nude or semi-nude electronic images of themselves to friends or posted on a website, according to a 2008 survey by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. One-third of teenage boys and one-quarter of teenage girls said they've viewed explicit images whose sender wanted them to remain private.

In March, a Clifton teenager was charged with distribution of child pornography because she posted nude photos for her boyfriend on MySpace. In April, Glen Rock police told youths to delete copies of a student's nude photo distributed by cellular phone.

Lampitt's proposals would involve:

3 Education: Juveniles, with county prosecutors' approval, would enroll in a program to learn about potential criminal penalties and the possible toll on their futures, including social stigma at school and impact on career choice. Those who complete the course would avoid a trial.

3 Warning parents: Information on the dangers of sexting would be sent to parents of students in grades 6 through 12.

3 Warning cell phone users: Sellers of cellular phones and service contracts would have to include information about sexually explicit transmittals.

Sexting and related behavior also is receiving attention at the federal level. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) is a sponsor of a bill to devote $175 million to fund internet safety programs for youth.

New Jersey has been confronting electronic safety problems for months, even as the technology has evolved.

Attorney General Anne Milgram's office developed the Report Abuse! icon, which encourages social networking site visitors to flag potentially dangerous posts and to point out bullying or other unwanted attention.

In March, the Assembly passed eight bills designed to protect youngsters and other users.

One measure would reduce the anonymity of Megan's Law registrants. Another would criminalize the transmission of sexually suggestive text and images. A third would compel computer technicians to report discoveries of child pornography. The rest involve stalking, identity theft and similar crimes. ..Source.. by STAR-LEDGER STAFF