“Sexting” in Georgia Schools

1. “Sexting” in Georgia Schools Presented By: Dep. Brayboy Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Forsyth, Georgia 31029 478-994-7046

2. INDEX • Introduction • Opening Statement • Goals TPO/EO • Body • Review • Conclusion • Questions This outline is available for ages 14-18 Is there anything in this presentation that will affect a student? Teacher/Principal Acknowledgement: I have read this outline and find it suitable for ages 14-18 _______________________________________ Equipment needed: Computer and Projector Time: 930 a.m. Month: June

3. INTRODUCTION • My name is Deputy Brayboy. I have been employed with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office for 3 years. • I am happily married and my husband is also in law enforcement with the Henry County Police Department. • I am assigned to the Monroe County SRO Unit, overseeing all of the schools in Monroe County. I am a parent of a two year old, but I enjoy working with youths of all ages. • My hobbies are shopping, shopping and more shopping.

4. Opening Statement • Sexting has become a serious problem in our schools. Since kids now have cell phones at very young ages, the responsibility of correct use has been lost. All students need to know that there are penalties for committing this act. • Roughly 20 percent of teens admit to participating in "Sexting," according to a nationwide survey (pdf) by the National Campaign to Support Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

5. Goals TPO/EO • Students will learn what is Sexting • Students will learn the penalties for Sexting in accordance with O.C.G.A. 16-12-100.1, Electronically furnishing obscene material to minors. • Define Electronically furnishing obscene materials to minors. • How Sexting may affect you as a student. • The penalties that can be imposed by the school as well as the State of Georgia. • Five things you need to think about before you press “SEND”

6. Sexting • Sexting is a practice in which people exchange sexually explicit material with each other via cell phone. It can be presented in the form of • Sexually explicit text messages • Nude pictures • Or Acts of a sexual nature

7. Georgia Laws regarding Sexting • Definition: In Georgia, Sexting can result in charges of criminal solicitation and corruption of a minor, in addition to possession of child pornography. Prison sentence likely. • Electronically furnishing obscene materials to minors (OCGA 16-12-100.1): electronically furnishing any sexually explicit images or sexually explicit written material to a minor. (Misdemeanor of high and aggravated nature) • Computer pornography (OCGA 16-12-100.2): compilation, sale, advertisement or possession of child pornography through the computer. (One to 20 years, fine up to $10,000)

8. Electronically Furnishing Obscene Material to Minors • Any picture, photograph, drawing, or similar visual representation or image of a person or portion of a human body which depicts sexually explicit nudity, and sexual conduct. • Any person knowing or having good reason to know the character of the material furnished, the person electronically furnishes to an individual whom the person knows or should have known is a minor • A minor in accordance with this code section is any unmarried person under the age of 18

9. Six cases made in schools; Teens can face sex offender status BY WILL DAVIS Published: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 5:09 PM CDT “OMG, have u heard the new penalty 4 Sexting?”Monroe County teens may be getting such a text message on their cell phones soon. That’s because a strict new state law took effect last month that can make Sexting an offense equal to felony child molestation.Sexting is the sending or receiving of pornographic pictures using cell phones.And as of May 5, teens caught Sexting with someone under the age of 16 can be charged with the equivalent of child molestation. That, said magistrate judge Jeff Davis, means kids who think they’re merely sending a risqué text message may in fact be committing a felony. And that means they could end up serving 10 years in prison and being a registered sex offender for the rest of their lives. The new law is aimed as curbing what parents, educators and law enforcement are calling a growing problem.Mary Persons principal Jim Finch said the just-finished school year was the first in which the school has caught kids with pornographic pictures on their phones. A student on the Mary Persons Freshman Campus was turned over to authorities after she was caught with pornographic pictures on her cell phone at school.And then in May, a teacher turned a second student over the investigators after discovering pornographic material on her cell phone on the main campus. Finch said the phones, most of which have cameras, have become the equivalent of a digital Hustler magazine for some students.The school resource officer and law enforcement officials were called in to investigate both cases. Tracking the cell phone messages to other phones, investigators wound up investigating six MP students for Sexting. The cases are going through the judicial system in both juvenile and superior court.Finch said the time stamps on the students’ cell phones showed the Sexting took place after school. Therefore, the students cannot be disciplined by the school. But they are being investigated by law enforcement.Banks Stephens Middle School principal Mike Hickman said some students at his school have been caught as well.The problem has gotten bad enough that both county middle schools are planning to hold a joint assembly with the Mary Persons freshmen in August so that sheriff’s investigators can tell students some consequences of Sexting.Hickman said the problem is worse in Bibb County but noted that Monroe has not been immune. And he said it’s likely to get worse as more and more kids, now extending into elementary school, have cell phones.“We’re going to have to deal with it,” said Hickman.Hickman and Finch both said a key to curbing the practice is getting parents involved. Finch said parents have every right to check their kids’ phones for inappropriate material every night.“I haven’t found a kid yet who pays for their own cell phone service,” said Finch. “I tell parents they own that phone, and they need to check it nightly.”

10. Consequences of Sexting • In some states it is considered child pornography • Once pictures are sent, they usually wind up on the internet and once they are on the internet, they are there to stay FOREVER!! Predators can also see these pictures Potential employers, college recruiters, teachers, coaches, family, and strangers

11. Effects of Sexting Can lead to • Cyber bullying is when one minor harasses another minor using interactive, digital, internet technologies • Humiliation is embarrassed made to feel uncomfortable because of shame or wounded pride • Harassment is behavior intended to disturb or upset • Death is the case or occasion of loss of life • Suicide is the intentional taking of ones own life

12. Monroe County School Laws • Any student in violation of O.C.G.A. 16-12-100.1 is subject to Administrative Action such as suspension or being expelled • The student will also be immediately turned over to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office for criminal charges as well.

13. Five Things You Need to Think About Before You Press “SEND” • Don’t assume anything you send or post is going to remain private • There is no changing your mind in cyberspace anything you send or post will never truly go away • Don’t give in to the pressure to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable, even in cyberspace • Consider the recipients reaction • Nothing is truly anonymous

14. Review • What is Sexting? • How can Sexting affect you as a student? • What is the penalty for Sexting under Georgia Law? • Can you be charged with the equivalent of child molestation for Sexting a person under the age of 16? • What is electronically furnishing obscene materials to minor?

15. Conclusion • During this block of instruction students have learned what Sexting is and how it can affect them. Students have also learned the penalties they could possibly face.

16. Questions

17. Credits • www.google.com • www.lexis/nexis.com • www.cosmogirl.com