Last week a girl I knew from high school was arrested. I was told it was for having child pornography, which shocked me that she would do that. But then I found out what happened is that they somehow found out she had nude pictures she took of HERSELF when she was 16 and 17 (shes 19 now). That's all. AFAIK there's no proof that she even showed them to anyone. But she has no defense because obviously they have evidence. So now she's going to spend a long time in prison and the rest of her life as a sex offender because she had pictures of herself at an age where she was physically similar to an adult. I support justice for victims of sexual abuse, but she didn't abuse anyone. Who's the victim here?
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All it does is detract time and resources from monitoring ACTUAL sex offenders who are DANGEROUS, and fuck up the lives of young teens who made stupid mistakes. No, it's not a good thing for them to be sending naked pictures of themselves, but declaring them sex offenders for it is ridiculous.
We had a case last year where a 19 year was arrested because he had received photos of some girl who was underage. I don't remember the full details but he had received the photos (unsolicited) when he was under 18. I don't remember if the girl or someone else sent them. He forgot they were on his phone and later got charged. His plans for being a teacher ruined.
Yes, he should have deleted them but 1) whoever sent them shouldn't have 2) they shouldn't exist in the first place and 3) this sort of situation and the one that the OP mentioned shouldn't be classed as sex offenders and made to register. Unless they are actually a danger. They're stupid but they shouldn't be put in the same category as rapists, pedophiles and child pornographers.
I'm in no way opposed to charges being brought against guilty offenders. It's the life sentence of having "sex offender" for this that I think is wrong.
Additionally, these kids will have to be monitored as they are now "sex offenders" which stretches the resources of those in charge of monitoring such people. That is not a positive. I'd rather they focussed on keeping a watch on actual sick fucks.
*runs to draw pants on said photo.
It sounds unfair....BUT it does fuel a horrible 'industry', so anyone who participates in it in some manner promotes child pornography. Maybe she didn't abuse someone, but she may indirectly cause someone else to be abused.
That's why it's a crime, and that's why it's harmful.
>That's why it's a crime, and that's why it's harmful.
Must be so nice to have the government do all your thinking for you.
Whoever she sends this to is now a criminal.
You can't see past the end of your own nose....SHE wasn't abused, but others like her are being abused. When someone looks at pictures of underage kids, there's no neon sign above the pics saying 'I was beaten or forced to do this picture', by (even just potentially) adding material to a pedophile's database, you are promoting the abuse of others.
Also, the people who she sent the picture to, or ended up receiving it, what about them? They're ruined because of her, or if it was a mutual misadventure, then they should both be ruined equally.
People who do this are stupid and deserve to be punished for more reasons than one. People need to make better decisions. These laws need to be harsh because if the kids could just say 'oh, I did it freely', and not get in any trouble, then what do you think is going to happen to the kids who really were abused? What's going to happen to the people who possess the image(s)? Think about it. If you can't figure it out, I'll tell you the answer, just let me know.
Also, why should the person who took the picture get less punishment than a person who receives the picture? How does that make sense, whether the person was willing or not? It doesn't make sense.
The punishment could change, but if it did, how would the crimes involving abuse be separated from the crimes like this one? It would be tricky, and probably end up protecting abusers more than helping the abused.
I do believe (some) sex offenders can later either get it dropped or appeal to have the label dropped. She may very well be one of those people. I don't think 'sex offender' is a lifetime label in some cases. Check into that.
Now if you'll excuse me i've got some stuff to burn.......
What if the pics had been taken due to a medical emergency (for example emergency plastic surgery before/after pics) does that make the doc a pedophile subject to sex offender status? totally bull shit ridiculous it makes me want to kill!!!
I agree completely with what Wigsplitz said, the content of her pictures could of got someone else in trouble that got those pictures sent to them regardless of them not even asking for them.
There are a lot of children engaging in these things, and some people get charged as a sex offender for it even though they done nothing wrong all because someone wanted to take some pictures, then keep them when the pictures were of a younger self. In order to stop this from happening, anyone involved in child pornography should be punished, even if the person has pictures of their younger selves...Who would keep younger naked pictures of yourself anyway?
Either way, thumbs up to you Wigsplitz.
What child is supposed to send such pictures to others anyway?
Well, how would you feel if you were branded a "kiddy fiddler" as a consequence to a child just expressing their sexuality?