« Ind. Decisions - Supreme Court posts one this afternoon | Main | Environment - "'Easterly's pile' a waste site, after all" »
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Law - "Illinois lawmakers send sexting bill to governor"
The Chicago Tribune reports this morning, via a story by Michelle Manchir:
SPRINGFIELD — Teens who forward or post online racy pictures of their underage classmates would get juvenile court supervision that could result in mandatory counseling or community service, under legislation sent to Gov. Pat Quinn on Tuesday.In In diana, a stody committee will discuss the sexting issue this summer. Here is a list of earlier ILB entries on the topic.The measure aims to educate teens about the dangers of "sexting" while modernizing state statutes for the Internet age. Under current Illinois law, teens caught with nude photos of other juveniles can be charged as sex offenders, lawmakers said.
"As the Internet explodes and people are taking advantage of it, these images hang around forever," said Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago. "Once they're disseminated, they can ruin somebody's career."
The sexting phenomenon surfaced in the suburbs in December when Plainfield police launched an investigation after a 16-year-old honors student at Plainfield East High School sent a nude photo of herself to a classmate, who forwarded it to several friends.
A January case in Valparaiso, Ind., was opened when a teacher discovered a phone in which a 12-year-old boy had sent a nude picture to a 13-year-old girl, according to police.
The Illinois bill, which passed 52-0, doesn't penalize youths who send or receive the risque photos but choose not to distribute them widely. It applies to kids under 18 who use computers or cell phones to distribute the pictures of minors, and the court supervision amounts to a scolding.
Silverstein left open the option of crafting more severe penalties for sexting.
"If it continues, we might have to take harsher steps," he said.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on April 28, 2010 08:27 AM
Posted to Indiana Law