*****Some kid taking a picture of themselves, and then sending it to some other kid is vastly different than kiddie porn. Whoever brought the charges needs their head examined. Parenting and discipline are called for here, not a further burden on our overtaxed public resources and lumbering criminal justice system.
Matt --
The thing I read was that there was not a mandatory sentencing requirement of jail time per se. However, the mandate was that if convicted of this particular crime, registry as a sex offender was mandated.
*****I think you're right John. But it's not just the litigious nature of society, (which, I can assure you I am NOT defending) but the fact that a judgement call by the teacher can be second guessed way in the future and result in a loss of their license to teach. The teacher covered his/her a**, (justifiably) by reporting the incident which has led to silly kids facing mandatory sentences because of poorly crafted legislation. I understand what Absinthe says re: too many cooks spoil the broth, but when it comes down to it, the people are not being well served by their legislatures. (Guess that's not really news, is it!) At the end of the day, there seems to be little room left for common sense on the part of the judiciary - and that's a real problem.
Bob H
*****
I think that, had it been anyone but a teacher, it might have had a different out come. But, in the litigious age in this country; had the teacher been aware of the pictures; not made the higher ups aware of them; then some sue-happy parents would have found a reason to bring a case. I guess it's like the bartender being held accountable for serving the drunk that one last drink--they allow it to continue--they are liable.
*****The reporting isn't at issue. The teacher was right to bring it forward. It's the mental midgetry of filing criminal charges that wreaks of idiocy.
*****
Yes, you may be right. But filing criminal charges might just be an example of the school administrators doing a thorough job of CYA. Itself a sad commentary on the times.
*****Criminal charges aren't a tort. School officials can't, nor can any common person file them, as in you or they can't charge anyone with anything other than a tort, which amounts to more or less a civil dispute. Only a DA's office or public prosecutor has the ability to file criminal charges.
*****
I'm sure you must be right; even though I don't know exactly what you are talking about.
If kids want to flash each other, let them. If it gets posted by some creep on the internet, well, maybe they'll learn that there are consequences to stupid actions. If they're 'sexting' they're most likely having sex, too, which definitely can have much more serious consequences.
One more consequence will be that people who now take the sex offender list seriously will see them as polluted with people who really shouldn't be on there. So the lists will lose effectiveness, further weakening the protection for children. (Not that I really think those lists work, or are a great idea, but this will not help.)
Agreed... but I have always been under the impression that acts committed while a minor, unless exceptionally heinous (which this certainly isn't), are generally off your record once you reach the age of majority, at least in the US.
What ever happened to simply giving all parties involved some kind of sanction, such as in-school suspension (enforced study hall, basically) for a week, if it is determined that punishment is warranted? That sort of thing used to be pretty standard for "stupid teenage behavior" but now the police are called? Ok...
I love to remind my teenagers how amazed they will be at how much smarter I will get when they get older.
There used to be a plaque available in one of the novelty stores that said something to the effect that "You teenagers should hurry up and leave home and get out in the world while you still 'know-it-all'"
You can try and do everything right. But in the end it is like drug store processing your film. You do your best to expose the film correctly, light your image, and in the end once it is out of your hands you hope that the images that come back you still recognize them...
Just seems to prove the joke.
Definition of a lawyer up to his nostrils in a cess-pool
A damn good start!
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