Are Teen ‘Sexting’ Penalties at School Too Lax?

An ever-increasing problem in the teen world has come in the form of “sexting,” or sending pornographic photos and illicit, sexual messages through cell phones.

Most recently, in the Bridgewater-Raritan School District, nude selfies were discovered floating around amongst the student body. Rather than involving police and pressing charges, the district superintendent, Cheryl Dyer, gave the students a couple of days to delete the images from all electronic devices.

Possession or distribution of nude images could ultimately lead to child pornography charges, even if it is a minor who is committing the alleged crime.

Dyer was the second New Jersey school chief in less than a month to give students a few days to right the wrong rather than involve police.

Is that the right move to make? Should students have to deal with criminal implications in this arena or be given the benefit of the doubt and some extra time to correct the issue?