Plan provides education to help stop sexting
A plan to help teach teens the dangers of sexting is on its way to Governor Andrew Cuomo's desk.
Both the Senate and the Assembly passed a bill called the "Cyber-Crime Youth Rescue Act." It states an education program should be developed as an alternative to a permanent criminal record for teens who sext. Sexting is when someone sends nude or obscene photographs to another through electronic technologies, like text messages.
The educational program would help "balance the serious nature of sexting...with considerations that follow from youthful behavior," according to the bill's co-sponsor, Senator Stephen Saland of Poughkeepsie.
Onondaga County Assistant District Attorney Rick Trunfio says his office has seen a steady stream of sexting cases, some involving kids as young as 11 and 12. Trunfio says many situations could end up as child pornography cases, since the kids are underage.
In Onondaga County, there is already a program to teach teens about what can happen when they sext. Local officials have been going into schools to talk to kids about the consequences of their actions. Trunfio says, "Most of what they do is impetuous. They do it without thinking, they do it because they think it's cool. They do it because of peer pressure. They are committing a high level felony and that could ruin their lives."
The state bill does not change the penalties that can be imposed for sexting, but it does create another option. It also touches on cyberbullying. The bill is now waiting for the governor's signature.
