Arrested? Call (800) 763-4065 Now for a Free Criminal Defense Consultation. No Obligation!

A Sexting reform bill has unanimously passed the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee, and moves forward towards the votes needed to becoming law. If it passes, it will allow lesser penalties for teens accused of transmitting sexual images via cell phone, and provide them much better opportunities for legal advocacy and defense under Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system.

This article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has some very tough quotes from the Senators behind the bills. They accuse judges from the recent Luzerne County juvenile justice scandal of railroading teens into juvenile detention for cash.

The Senators also want access to legal defense in juvenile cases for there foolish, but relatively innocent acts of “sexting”, instead of sex offense charges.

If sexting offenses are allowed to be charged as misdemeanor, or summary offenses, it gives juveniles an opportunity to seal those records, and not have a mistake follow them for the rest of their lives.

Sexting reform allows for lesser penalties for stupid behavior, and normal teen curiosity in the age of ubiquitous camera phones. Common sense says teens snapping pictures of themselves is not the same thing as felony distribution of child pornography, so the law should allow for reasonable penalties, and education programs for juveniles, not a lifetime as a registered sex offender.

Related posts:

1. Arizona Legislature Works on Sexting Laws Reform
2. South Carolina Moves Toward Sexting Laws Reform
3. Sexting Laws Reform Gains Steam
4. Illinois Adds New Juvenile Sexting Law
5. Sexting Charges in Pennsylvania