Fairfield Attorney, Victoria Ferrara, Sends Wake-up Call to Tomlinson Middle School Parents About Sexting, Child Pornography and Cell-Phone Supervision
CONTACT: Victoria Ferrara 203-255-9877 or Steven Gaynes 203-767-6645
20 Percent of Teens Have Received or Done Sexting; Long-Term Consequences are Grave
FAIRFIELD, CT/FEBRUARY 1, 2010 – Fairfield Attorney Victoria T. Ferrara, a lawyer for more than 20 years and the parent of a teenager, gave some 40 Tomlinson Middle School parents a strong wake-up call about Children and the Law when she presented to a PTA meeting on January 27, 2010. Her most hard-hitting points centered around the consequences of Sexting (transmitting inappropriate or sexual images across the phone lines or computers); and the legal and emotional damage this practice can have.
The risk behind Sexting was one of the strongest messages Ferrara sent to her audience. Sexting, the transmitting of pornographic images through cell phones or often computers, may put a teenager at risk of being arrested for transmitting child pornography and being labeled a sex offender. Child pornography was defined recently by The Hartford Courant as sexual images of a child under age 16. In addition with possibly having to register as a sex offender, teens may be denied college admission, have difficulty finding work and a host of other consequences. Ferrara offered several examples of typical sexters –mostly young men, who are often trying to get back at former girlfriends or vice versa by sending embarrassing photographs of a sexual nature through cell phones. She also spoke of other related sexting activities.
“There are several distinctions that apply to inappropriate cell phone and computer use,” Ferrara said. “Secretly taking photographs and distributing them is called cyberbullying. Sending ex-girlfriend pictures to a large list is called harassment and teens who are collecting photographs and are caught can be labeled sex offenders.
“Tweens as young as 13 have been charged with child pornography as a result of the Sexting they do. And 20 percent of teens under 17 have received texts and sent them. It’s definitely getting worse.”
Ferrara also pointed to situations like Tiger Woods’ indiscretions to reinforce that even adults can get into trouble for Sexting. Many adults and definitely teens may have no idea that their Sexting messages can quickly become fodder for law suits and criminal cases.
In addition to the Sexting issue, Ferrara also focused on juvenile crime and several kinds of rehabilitation programs, including alcohol and drug education and accelerated rehabilitation for those charged with criminal offenses that are not considered serious. She also explained the differences between supervised and unsupervised probation.
“If your child does get in trouble with the law, make sure that you call a lawyer to help navigate the complicated legal system,” said Ferrara. “A lawyer knows the ins and outs of the system, including how to speak with prosecutors and judges about the consequences and outcomes of criminal case dispositions; answers to the tough questions about the law and how the legal system works.
On the subject of serving alcohol in particular to minors, Ferrara put to rest the notion that parents who offer teens and their friends alcohol or other substances are above the law. Aside from the potential for criminal trouble, she pointed out, “there is civil liability.
She ended her speech with the importance of parental vigilance. In a slide labeled, “They’re 12. Feel Free to Intrude”, Ferrara empowered parents to monitor cell phones and contact lists. According to an area middle school principal, Andrew Morrow, “There’s no such thing as, ‘Well, I don’t want to intrude on them.’. “They’re 12. Feel free to intrude!’”
About the Law Firm of Victoria Ferrara
The Fairfield, Conn. law firm of Victoria Ferrara is a three-lawyer firm that was founded in 2000and specializes in the areas of family and juvenile law, civil litigation, real estate and reproductive law; Real Estate and construction among several others.
