TRENTON — Teenagers caught sending explicit pictures on cell phones would enter into an educational program under a bill cleared by the Senate Budget committee this morning. The bill, which passed the full Assembly 78-0 in March, is designed to educate teenagers about the consequences of "sexting," allowing them to avoid prosecution and a scar on their permanent records....
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More and more teenagers are finding themselves caught sexting, sending nude photos over cell phones. The state Senate Budget committee has passed a bill that would require teens caught 'sexting' to take an educational program to understand the consequences.TRENTON — Teenagers caught sending explicit pictures on cell phones would enter into an educational program under a bill cleared by the Senate Budget committee this morning.
The bill, which passed the full Assembly 78-0 in March, is designed to educate teenagers about the consequences of "sexting," allowing them to avoid prosecution and a scar on their permanent records.
"It's a good alternative to an issue that is getting a lot of attention across the country," said Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), chairman of the budget committee.
Under the measure, the attorney general's office would create a program to teach teens about the criminal penalties and social consequences of sending or receiving nude or semi-nude images through their cell phones or computers. Included would be lessons on how the Internet can produce long-term and unforeseen consequences after photographs are posted and the connection between cyber-bullying and the posting of sexual images.
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