Charging teenagers for possessing and distributing child pornography after they share nude photos of themselves with their friends has become a disturbing trend across the country. The charges carry consequences that threaten to cripple their futures, stunting career and educational aspirations and even restricting where they can live. This time, the "criminals" are three girls, aged 14 or 15, and three boys, aged 16 or 17. But the real culprits in the case are local officials who think a matter that rates parents' attention should instead draw the wrath of the criminal-justice system.
The girls in the case -- all students at Greensburg Salem High School in Greensburg, Pennsylvania -- are accused of sending nude or semi-nude photos of themselves to three male friends. Note, these people all know each other and the photos were self-portraits voluntarily sent by the subjects to boys they chose.
As a result, the three girls are being charged with manufacturing, disseminating or possessing child pornography (pictures of themselves) and the three boys are being charged with possessing the same (photos that popped up on their cell phones). The charges are felonies that carry serious penalties in the great state of Pennsylvania, including registration as a sex offender under the state's Megan's Law.
In defending the arrests and draconian charges, Capt. George Seranko of the Greensburg Police Department said, "It's very dangerous. Once it's on a cell phone, that cell phone can be put on the Internet where everyone in the world can get access to that juvenile picture. You don't realize what you are doing until it's already done."
Well ... no. E-mailing nude pictures of yourself is potentially embarrassing and very likely foolish -- especially for minors with minimal concept of the consequences. Mom and dad should definitely get involved before somebody's bare butt ends up as wallpaper on MySpace.
But "dangerous?" That's a fitting description for arresting nonviolent teenagers with over-active hormones and tossing them behind bars with real criminals. And slapping them with potentially life-long consequences ... That's just perverse.
The last time I wrote about a case like this it was a 15-year-old Ohio girl. She ended up pleading guilty while the smug lawmaker who authored the statute under which she was victimized insisted that sharing naughty images of your own body is, indeed, a terrible act deserving of criminal penalties.
Authorities in Pennsylvania sound equally self-satisfied. They've managed to turn a small matter of teenage stupidity into a case study in official cruelty.
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Comments
Somewhere in our piles of pictures, is a picture of my daughter (now 38) when she was 5, sitting naked in the bathtub with her then two year old brother.
Will the KGB of the religious right come knocking at our door? While the people they turned into perverts and priests with their puritanical views on sex- were hidden by their heirarchy for decades.
This reminds me of the guy who used to come into our store, go around with a small notebook, but never bought anything.
I saw him getting into his car in town one day, plaster with Bush / Republican stickers.
BTW, he is on the public list as a registered sex offender, something we discovered after one of the managers recognized him from church and knew about his history.
And he was using his cellphone to take pix's of the kids who worked at the store. Granted, they were dressed properly for a public environment. But who knows what he did with photoshop and the pixs.
I wouldn't be the least bit surprised that the people behind these arrests are a little shaky themselves on this score.
When and where will the madness end?
This has to be some kind of joke! The fact that parents do not teach their children how to develop relationships is disturbing. This is not a matter that the courts should handle if both parties in this are minors then the parents are the one whom should take responsibility for their children. Put the parents in front of the judge and let them explain why they have not better equipt their children for life. I myself have only been out of high school for five years and i still remember how it was and is. TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO DEAL WITH LIFE!!!
so maybe babies should go to jail for their nude pics too. Don't forget the parents for possessing child pornography
THIS IS SO STUPID; IF THE KID DID SOMTHING LET THE DEAL WITH IT. . . . ITS NOT LIKE THEY WERE PUSHED TO DO IT. . . . .ITS THEIR LIFE -__-
Two questions:
a) Are these "authorities" totally nuts?
b) Where can I get copies of the pictures? ;-)
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