WA: Sexting bill would shield teens from adult sex offense rules

Source: nationalcybersecurity.com 9/2/26 OLYMPIA, Wash. — Legislation aimed at keeping youths who send sexually explicit texts from being charged and registered under adult sex offender laws has been sent to Gov. Jay Inslee. The bill that passed in the state Legislature on Wednesday night would create a new group of crimes reserved specifically for minors who are caught with explicit images of other minors. Most of the new crimes would be set as misdemeanors — a status that would exempt convicted youth from having to register as sex offenders. Sexting,…

Read More

OH: Ohio House bill offers 2nd chance to teenagers caught sexting

[wcpo.com – 7/14/18] CINCINNATI — The punishment for teenagers caught sharing sexually explicit images could be lessened in Ohio. A House bill would allow first-time offenders who are 18 or younger a chance to have their charges dismissed upon completion of a program that explains the impact of sexting. Through the program, teens would review relevant laws, examine how sharing explicit material affects personal relationships and learn about the longevity of content posted online. Such diversion programs already are in use in some counties, but the proposed legislation would require…

Read More

OH: Ohio House updates ‘sexting’ law related to minors

[norwalkreflector.com – 6/27/18] COLUMBUS — State Reps. Brian Hill (R-Zanesville) and Jeff Rezabek (R-Clayton) today applauded the House for passing legislation they jointly sponsored that provides another option to Ohio’s courts when dealing with juveniles charged with possessing sexually explicit digital material, or engaging in “sexting” with a minor. It was one of several bills OK’d today by the Ohio House of Representatives. This bill takes into account the growing dilemma of juveniles who engage in “sexting” with other juveniles and the charges that may be filed by prosecutors by…

Read More

Older teens less likely to think sexting would get them in trouble

[journalistsresource.org – unknown publishing date] Older teens are less likely than younger kids to think they’d get in trouble for sexting, new research finds. The study, to be published in a forthcoming issue of Computers in Human Behavior, also indicates boys are less likely than girls to believe sexting can have serious consequences. For example, girls are more likely to say sexting would result in trouble at school or hurt their chances of getting a job. For the purposes of this study, the researchers describe sexting as “the digital recording…

Read More