Texas Considering Changing "Sexting" Punishments
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: November 9, 2010
AUSTIN -- Texas lawmakers are proposing minimizing the punishment for teens caught "sexting", or sending illicit photographs via text.
Under current law, teens caught sending or receiving sexually explicit images on their phone face child pornography charges. Lawmakers such as Attorney General Greg Abbott say teenagers' lives are being ruined by the felony offense. They say they still want discipline, but under different terms.
"Prosecutors are apprehensive about being involved in the process of taking a 14 or 15 year old at a high school and putting them behind bars for 10 years and making them register as a sex offender," said Abbott
Abbott and Senator Kirk Watson say the new bill they plan to present in January will punish minors, but won't ruin their futures.
