Law Commons^™

Criminal Law—Teenage Sexting In Arkansas: How Special Legislation Addressing Sexting Behavior In Minors Can Salvage Arkansas's Teens' Futures, Sidney L. Leasure

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

Sexting is defined as sending sexually explicit images or messages via cell phones. Albeit questionable, sexting is legal between consenting adults. However, there are many consequences of sexting that may not be considered by teenagers who sext. Beyond ridicule, punishment by parents or schools, and the eternal lifespan of digital content, there can be harsh legal consequences for sexting teens. These consequences vary from state to state, but include felony convictions for child pornography and the resulting consequence of being required to register as a sex offender. Often, such convictions can affect college acceptances and career choices.

In order to …

No Contact Parole Restrictions: Unconstitutional And Counterproductive, Sharon Brett

Michigan Journal of Gender & Law

Although what Jesse Timmendequas did was abhorrent, the legislation enacted in the wake of his crime went far beyond making sure we know the pedophiles or pedophile-murderers living in our neighborhoods. Megan's name now lends itself to a host of state laws requiring the state to notify neighbors when a sex offender moves into the neighborhood. The term "sex offender" is intentionally broad, covering everyone from voyeurs and exhibitionists to rapists and child molesters. Yet, Megan's Laws treat them the same way, ignoring some crucial questions: Are all sex offenders alike? Are they all monsters? In reality, the majority of …

Do Sex Offender Registries Make Us Less Safe?, J. J. Prescott

Articles

State legislatures enacted sex offender registration and notification (SORN) laws with the explicit and exclusive aim of reducing sex offender recidivism. The general idea that we ought to “regulate” released offenders — of any type — to reduce the likelihood of their returning to crime is an attractive one, at least in theory. Criminal recidivism generates significant social harm. Nevertheless, despite their now-widespread use, SORN laws became the norm without any systematic study of their consequences. Admittedly, the logic underlying these laws seems at first difficult to gainsay: if a known sex offender poses even a small risk to a …