In recent news media there have been a flurry of reports about teens as young as 13 potentially being charged as a sex offender. From newspaper reports around the country to national news programs we are hearing more about something called "sexting".

Sexting is sexually suggestive messaging via cellphone - including text messages, pictures or video.


Sexting has likely been around for years, but the adult world is just now hearing about it. Look on Google and there are hundreds of news stories about this phenomena. Sadly, there are also reports of teen suicide linked to sexting.

This is not one isolated case in some far-off place either - Wisconsin, New York, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan, Utah, and Oregon all have reported cases. In the Pennsylvania case involved 6 teens - 3 (14-15yr old) girls sent naked photos of themselves to 3 (16-17yr old) boys. Police say both those sending the pictures and those receiving them are facing charges.

According to the Tech & Sex survey (sponsored by Cosmo Girl & National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy) 20% of teens 13-19 surveyed had sent nude or sexually suggestive semi-nude pics of themselves and just under half of teens sending sexual messages.

This could been seen as just teens being teens...after all, how many of us who are past our teen years can think of at least one or two things we did that was less than brilliant in hindsight? Where this can potentially turn ugly for today's teens is where this teen "fun" meets laws like Megan's Law.

Just to get an idea of some of the problems being label a sex offender can bring, here is one example - a story from the mother of a registered sex offender in Minnesota who talks about how being labeled a sex offender has impacted his life. This article does not even start get into the lifelong challenges to find a job or renting an apartment or any number other areas of life. The possible ways this can impact these young lives are truly endless! Just imagine - one of these young boys who received the photo...years down the road this could very likely be brought up during a custody hearing. The list of doors which may be closed forever to these children is astonishing: no jobs of any kind (even fast food) in any airport, medical field, schools, gym, counseling, etc; possible restrictions of traveling overseas; problems renting any apartment..the list goes on.

This discussion must include how we as a society label and treat sex offenders, along with other types of 'criminals". Don't get me wrong - I am in no way suggesting that people should not pay for their actions. I do think that too often in our current system the punishment does not fit the crime. From my work I see any number of people who have been charged with serious crimes for relatively minor actions. I hope we are finally getting to the point where we will allow our judicial system to consider the individual circumstances and to have a sentence that makes sense.