Child Sexting Research Paper

Sexting is imprudent, untoward, and unfortunately - not all that uncommon. In a recent study of college freshmen, thirty-one percent of the participants reported sending a sexting image of themselves in high school to someone else using a cell phone (Martinez-Prather, 28).This action is a felony crime in Kansas, punishable by up to thirty-four years in jail, a substantial fine, and inclusion on the registered sexual offender list for life (Mobile Media Guard). While this may seem like excessive punishment for sexting, this punishment in not specifically for sexing. Since Kansas has no laws directly related to sexting, when minors are involved in sexting, the laws they have broken are those

Rachel has a cognitive disability and she might not know what she’s doing by sexting the male inappropriate things.

The term "statutory rape" is defined as “sexual relations between an underage minor female and an adult male or vice versa” (Criminology: The Core). Individuals that engage in sexual activity should be at the age of consent. The age of consent varies by state laws and the legal ramifications for breaking this law is set in accordance with their ethical standards. The age of consent law even considers sexual relation between a minor and adult that is non-violent or unforced to be statutory rape.

The accusation of statutory rape can insult both parties involved when the case is of a completely consensual & committed relationship. Since the year 2003 the legality is expected to be easily understood, if one person isn’t giving consent, with the capacity to do so, and the other involved does not think there’s consent, that is an offence. So when two people in a committed relationship are being punished for something that any other normal couple could do without such extreme consequences, is the statutory rape law really just?

Seven-year-old Megan Kanka was sexually assaulted and killed by Jesse Tim Medequas a released sex offender along with two other ex-offenders (Winick and La Fond, 213). Megan's parents and the community were extremely angry at the fact that they did not receive any type of notification that a released sex offender especially a violent one was living amongst them. In 1996 in New Jersey, Megan's Law implemented guidelines for sex offender registration and nationally mandated notification systems be implemented across the states to notify communities of sex offenders living among them. The registry requires all sex offenders to register their personal information such as their name, address, and crime. The notification system requires police

Statutory rape laws assume that a person is not capable of consenting sex. Even if a person consents the law of sex assume that they do not have the capacity to consent. statutory rape is different from child molestation as there is not force. Marriage is excluded from the law as an older individual is able to marry someone who is under age as long they obtain consent from their parents. Andre clark discussion of california’s statutory rape laws demonstrates the distinctions made for marriage in the law as statutory rape is described as an ‘’act of sexual intercourse intercourse accomplished with a female not the wife of the perpetrator, where the female in under the age of 18 years’’ (P.1933). Statutory rape laws can also serve to protect those who are mentally incapacitated and be may be at a developmental age lower than their actual age however this can be difficult to prove. While statutory rape laws are currently in place to protect minors

Statutory law in particular is discriminating to boys and very patronizing to girls, throughout my research I have found many studies where women have cried in front of the judge and the judge will let them off with a minimum of three months probation, or a few hours of community service. Albert Einstein once said that, “The world is not dangerous because of those who do harm but because of those who look at it without doing anything.”

Pedophiles have been around for centuries in all different forms: male, female, young, and old. They can also be found everywhere: school districts, colleges, in the workplace, daycare centers, church, and even in a home. A lot of the time, it is difficult to pick them out in a crowd because they are normal, everyday people. To be qualified as a pedophile, someone has to be at least sixteen, have sexual feelings for a child usually under the age of thirteen for at least six months, and be a minimum of five years older than the child(ren). They also have to either act on the sexual feelings or struggle keeping their feelings to themselves. Contrary to this, there is always an exception to every rule. If an older teenager has been in a decently long relationship with a child twelve or thirteen, they are excused from being a pedophile (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Pedophiliac Disorder is a person having sexual thoughts, fantasies and committing the behaviour involving an prepubescent child or children. Usually these children are 13 years or younger and the person with Pedophiliac Disorder is five years older then the victim. A person with Pedophiliac Disorder, may not think they did anything wrong to the child or children, even though there is substantial evidence with doing so. A pedophile which is another word used to describe someone with Pedophiliac Disorder is describe as a person sexual attracted to a child. If the person feels guilty, shameless and remorse towards the thoughts they are thinking, the person with get diagnosed with Pedophilia Sexual Orientation. Pedophilia Sexual Orientation is when the person does not commit the behaviour towards the victim. Where Pedophiliac Disorder is when a person commits the behaviour on compulsion. Currently in the new DSM-V, with the diagnoses Pedophilia Sexual Orientation and Pedophiliac Disorder this as caused an uproar with some people about their views on how these

Sexting is defined as the act of sending or receiving sexually explicit messages through mobile devices (Temple et al., 2012). The practice is increasingly common among hormone-driven teenagers who are becoming more sexually curious. Although sexting may seem quick and harmless, these 14 to 17 year olds do not realize the lasting consequences of their actions. The reality is that adolescents who engage in sexting are at greater risk of being victimized. Victims of sexting scandals may be exploited and publicly humiliated if their messages are abused or misdirected. In the case where a minor is involved, the act of sexting may lead to serious criminal consequences. Both the minor and the recipient may be convicted of a felony and charged with the possession, distribution, or receipt of child pornography (Jaishankar, 2009). Additionally, those who fall victim to sexting scandals may also be at risk of victim-blaming and victim-shaming. Both approaches hold the victim accountable for his/her own victimization and believe that he/she shares some responsibility for the harm directed against them. Nevertheless, the act of sexting can cause an individual to become a victim of bullying, blackmail, unwanted attention, and psychological distress (Temple et al., 2012).

Some people believe that sexting should not be criminalized or treated as “distribution of child pornography”. After researching, sexting has seemed less and less harmful. Sexting is seen as an act or discretion only done by kids, but that isn't always the case, so why have the same punishment for an adult as you would have for a minor, when minors are not given the same rights as adults. The sentencing for sexting or “distribution of child pornography” should become circumstantial. Sexting is not always harmful and should be seen as the act of a criminal.

The applicant is denied parole. Three (3) years served is not enough time for the applicant to be rehabilitation. He is a pedophile. A person convicted of a sexual abusing a child requires evaluation and long term treatment programs. The treatment programs are extensive and require licensed professionals. Pedophiles have mental illness that causes sexual desire of little boys and girls. Society cannot risk other child becoming a victim.

One serious issue is sexting, Sexting among teens is not only illegal, but harmful and dangerous among the sender and the receiver. Both are held responsible for child pornography and can be dealt serious consequences. Sexting causes an increase in teen suicides, anxiety self-esteem and involves pressure meaning another forum cyberbullying. Exposing these pornographic photos will not only stress the deliverer but lead to sexual harassment in conclusion.

Virginia does not currently have a sexting law. Creating, distributing, or possessing sexually explicit material depicting a minor can be charged under the Commonwealth’s child porn laws regardless of age. Furthermore, these are separate felony charges and may be charged as up to three separate felonies. If convicted, an individual must register as a sex offender. It does not matter if a minor took a photo or video of his or herself – the charge may be punishable by up to 20 years in prison if the minor depicted is 15 years of age or older, or up to 30 years in prison if the minor is under the age of 15. Possession of child pornography is a class 6 felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Distribution is punishable by up to 20 years in

   At issue before the Circuit Courts has been the constitutionality of the 1996 Child Pornography Prevention Act (CPPA) in which Congress sought to modernize federal law by enhancing its ability to combat child pornography in the cyberspace era(Free Speech). There is a split in the circuit courts regarding this bill, and this essay will address the discrepancy.