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Should parents face punishment for their kids' sexting?

By Douglas A. Berman

The question in the title of this post is prompted by this local story out of Texas, headlined "Proposal Would Punish PARENTS of 'Sexting' Teens."  Here are the details: A measure which would allow a judge to punish the parents of teenagers who engage in the risky practice known as 'sexting,' was introduced today in the Texas Legislature, and immediately received the support of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.... The measure, introduced by State Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin), would make sexting a Class C misdemeanor requiring a court appearance for the teenaged violator, and would allow a judge to 'sentence' his or her parent to participate in an education program on sexting's long-term harmful consequences. 'Sexting' is the use of a e-mail or a texting service to transmit an explicit photograph of themselves or of another teen...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on February 08, 2011 (boomark / email).