As a new school year begins, parents of students going into high school are likely concerned about the new friends their children will be making, how their hormones may guide them into questionable decisions, and whether the “puppy love” relationships they forge will change their lives.
This is because courting was not like it was even a generation ago. Today, teens communicate more through social media and text messaging than they may do in person. This also involves taking sexually explicit pictures of themselves and sending them to each other.
While “sexting” may seem fun, bold and exciting, it could lead to criminal charges that can change a teen’s life forever. At its core, sexting is considered to be the transmission of child pornography, which could be punishable with jail time as well as the requirement to register as a sex offender.
So for teens who have been charged in this fashion, it is important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney at your side so that you can have a reasonable chance of presenting your side of the story and resolve difficult situations.
After all, a teen who is embarrassed and afraid may make rash decisions simply to get things over with, and false promises of probation may have unintended consequences in the future that a teen may not able to comprehend. Because of this, consulting with an experienced criminal defense attorney is essential.
So as a new school year begins, parents and teens are encouraged to have frank conversations about the dangers of sexting.