Sexting Stereotypes

Many uneducated juveniles and adults believe sending nude or sexual text messages is not or can’t be harmful. At the moment, it can be easy to send or receive an un-appropriate message without thinking of the consequences or possible victims. There are several different ways someone can be a victim of sexting, such as that the person exposed on the picture is unaware or the picture being send. Or that the individual on the picture is unaware of the image captured. Several states have different definitions as well as to similar regarding to their sexting statue. Therefore, they also have different ways of punishing the offenders. The statutes of states Texas, Florida and New York will be discussed regarding sexting and Romeo and Juliet. Texas

In the statue of New York, “it's a crime to persuade someone younger than 17 to engage in the making of a sexual or nude image, or to distribute or disseminate child pornography featuring someone younger than 17… It's also a crime to possess a nude or sexual depiction of someone younger than 16” (Mince, n.d). Being different from the Republican states, New York has a Diversion Program in which the person receiving or sending the picture must attend, the requirement is to be less than 20 years old. The program is designed to explain the members the consequences that sexting implies. If the offender is older than 20 years old the prosecution will seek the conviction of 15 years’ imprisonment, as well as register as a sex offender for at least 20 years. Overall, Texas, Florida and New York have some similarities as well as differences.

The main similarity is that these states designed their laws as if they were directed to juveniles. What is surprising is that Texas and Florida had a fee attached to the sentence, Texas having the highest. In contrast, New York has the goal of “teaching” the consequences for one’s actions. Even though Florida can also relate to New York mission since it has a mandatory class that must be attended. A similar law that is also directed to juveniles is Romeo and Juliet

If the defendant had sex, meaning penetration, and the victim is younger than 15 years old the prosecution will seek the maximum penalty which is 7 years in prison. If the victim is 17 or younger the prosecution will seek 4 years in prison as a sentence.

As well as the sexing laws among these states, there are similarities as well as differences. It is interesting to observe the state of Florida is stricter with the Romeo and Juliet Law. All three states have a punishment for a sentence as well that only New York requires the defendant to register as a sex offender.

Overall, the states have in mind what is the most important. Although sexting is criminal activity that can affect victims, having the actual sexual act with a minor can be more harmful to the victim. Both criminal activities should be punished with the appropriate consequences, and although all states are different, they all have a way to show society their actions are