I have read recently that sexual offenders have many characteristics and come in various age groups. Even though all sexual offenders may not be considered on the same level as a sexual abuser, they are defined as the same. I feel like so many of teen today are either become victims easily through “sexting” described as (texting nude photos) or becoming a sexual predator via cell phone. The numbers has significantly grown in the year 2009 and seems to me that the numbers will increase. Who is considered the predator today? Is it our teens?
In my research, I realized that they carry the same definition. A sex offender is described as (abuser) is a person, who committed a sex crime. It can differ from state to state based on the states’ own legislature laws. However, in most jurisdictions, it defines offenses that include child sex abuse, downloading child pornography, rape, and statutory rape. The term sexual offender is often used to describe severe or repeat sex offenders.
In today’s society it is almost a trap to fall into in becoming a sex offender. Sex offenders are not just those who physically or psychology cause damage to a victim. But, they are considered to be those who download pictures of minors (under age 17). Many students fall prey to acts of a sexual offender. Now this can be tricky, because if you are legally 18 and you take pictures or send pictures of a 16 year old and you are caught, you will be considered a sex offender.
It happens in the school where many don’t think this is illegal. Taking pictures of themselves sending it to others and being transferred around in cyberspace. Today, so many junior high and high school children are being viewed as potential sex offenders when they reached the age of 18. It has become the “norm” for texting nude photos to and fro cell phones. Many of our children today fall prey to this ongoing crime.
How well do we understand the consequences of ‘sexting”? On the news I heard of many stories of school children “sexting” photos of themselves and of others. But they don’t understand the seriousness of this incident. I think that schools need to raise more awareness about “sexting” to decrease the exposure to sexual predators.
In my readings through some articles, I found out that within three years of release, 2.5% of released rapists were rearrested for another rape, and 1.2% of those who had served time for homicide were arrested for a new homicide. It has been studied that majority of sex offenders were less likely than non-sex offenders to be rearrested for any offense, 43% of sex offenders versus 68% of non-sex offenders. I also read that sex offenders were about four times more likely than non-sex offenders to be arrested for another sex crime after their discharge from prison estimate about 5.3% of sex offenders versus 1.3% of non-sex offenders.
So what do we do now? We need to be aware of the dangers that our children may expose themselves, unknowingly of the damage they can do to themselves. Parents should talk to teens about how they can become a registered sex offender just by the use of picture texts that they do so often and the outcome of it. No parent would want to see their teen as a registered sex offender and be viewed as a predator amongst neighbors. I think that if the schools also have children and parent workshops to discuss the issues and the consequences, the numbers of these occurrences would significantly decrease.
Works Cited
Reitz, S. ( June 2008) Teens sending nude photos via cell phones.
Retrieved on April 4th 2010 from the internet. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24970829/
Sex offender. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_offender.
Glossary of images
http://www.gizmodiva.com/entry_image/0809/12/texting.jpg
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