Should a 14 yr old be arrested as an adult sex offender?

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   Stevennix2001posted 14 years ago

   In recent news as I was scouting for more videos for my upcoming, "Dangers of Youtube" hub, I found another one that caught my eye. Although this incident happened on myspace and NOT youtube, i figured I'll use it anyway.  After all, if it happened on myspace, then you know it's bound to happen on youtube too.  You see a 14 yr old girl was caught posting nude photos of herself on myspace because she wanted to impress her boyfriend.  Well somebody reported it, and now she's being tried as a registered sex offender for showing off her naked body on the internet.  Granted, what she did was very stupid, and she certainly deserves to be punished for what she did.  However, prosecuting her as a sex offender does seem a bit harsh if you ask me.  anyways, here's the video for full details:
   
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTu7y5De3Cc
   
   Anyways, what are your thoughts on this?  punishment fit the crime?  Too harsh?  Not enough?  Or if she was your daughter, then what would you do to her to make sure she never did this again or say to her at least?

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      lady_love158posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Who is the victim? Who is the perpetrator? She is being prosecuted for a crime against herself!  Its absurd!

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         Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         exactly! it's outragious if you ask me.

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      John Holdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I don't understand why you think she deserves to be punished!
      She's done nothing to harm anybody else, but has done herself considerable harm.
      Why would any right minded person seek to increase that harm?

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         Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         fine, are you saying YOU would let your child expose themselves like that shamelessly over the internet?  Knowing full well that any psychopath and/or pedophile could see such photos?  I don't know about you, but I certainly wouldn't want my daughter exposing herself over the internet like that if I had one.  Believe it or not, not everyone on myspace is friendly, as pedophiles do exist and use social networking sites to scout for their victims quite frequently.  and those nude photos, lets just say all it does is draw a lot of unwanted attention.  granted, it's her body, but she shouldn't be allowed to flaunt her body shamelessly like that as a child.  Once she turns 18, then she's free to do whatever she wants, as she'll be an adult then.  However, it's the parents responsibility to make sure the child knows how dangerous doing a stunt like that is.

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            John Holdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            But punishing the child isn't going to stop any of that happening!
            You're damn right that I wouldn't want my daughter doing such a thing but if she did I'd be asking myself where I'd failed, not punishing her as an adult sex offender.
            Again, who does benefit from punishing her?

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               Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

               John, who said anything about me wanting to punish her as an adult sex offender?  Seriously, did you not read any of my posts?  Or are you just shamelessly trying to take things I said out of contexts, so you can make me look bad on purpose in forums?  If you actually read what I said, I said that prosecuting this girl as a sex offender was too harsh and a bit extreme.  In fact, here's exactly what I said:
               
               Granted, what she did was very stupid, and she certainly deserves to be punished for what she did.  However, prosecuting her as a sex offender does seem a bit harsh if you ask me.
               
               Please, if you're going to quote me, then don't take what I say out of context, as it's kind of insulting.  Another thing is you don't even know what I was referring to by punishment.  If you must know specifically what I meant by that, then I'll gladly tell you.  One, I would have a long talk with her about what she did, and why it was wrong to begin with.  then i take away her web cam and pc.  grounding her for about a few months from hanging out with her friends, using her phone and whatnot.  then i'd move the pc into the kitchen or somewhere where i can keep an eye on her whenever she's online.  once that happens, she'll be able to use the internet again, but only during the times im home, so i know she won't try anything.  however, she'll never get the web cam back.  does that answer your question about what i meant about punishment?  or are you going to twist my words again like a jerk?
               
               eta:  besides, legally speaking if they do charge her for anything, they should only charge her for indecent exposure as a minor if anything.

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                  John Holdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  The problem is that you spoke about punishment in the context of the legal system and I read it in that way!
                  At no point did you mention parental control or punishment!
                  Rather than taking things out of the context in which they were written, I was taking them in context!
                  If that makes me a jerk, then so be it!

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                     Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Well then John it occurs to me that you obviously don't know how to read.  What a shock.  Do me a favor, go back and reread the op until you understand it, then get back to me, as you're ignorance is starting to wane on my nerves.

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                        John Holdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Cop out, you don't know how to write but that's no problem, just pass the buck and blame those who don't read into your posts things that aren't there.
                        I have read your OP and still can't see any mention of parental control in it!
                        Seems like you have a big problem with other people disagreeing with you, even when it turns out, after you've made your meaning clear, that they aren't. Couldn't possibly be ignorance on your part could it?

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                           Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           John, look I have no issues with you, so why are you trying to insinuate things with me?  seriously?  As for parental issues, you're right. in the op, there was no mention of those issues. As I originally meant the only charge she should face, at worst, is for indecent exposure as a minor, in the op.  the other stuff I said I'd do as a parent is just stuff that I would as a parent.  get the picture?  anyways, I'm sorry for not making that clearer. however, I still don't understand, how you could've misinterpreted my posts into thinking that I want this girl to be tried as a sex offender when I clearly said I thought it was extreme.  hell, i even copied and pasted my exact words in the op, and you still don't get it?  seriously, what the hell is your problem?
                           
                           hell, i'll copy and past them for you AGAIN, so you can reread it:
                           
                           "Granted, what she did was very stupid, and she certainly deserves to be punished for what she did.  However, prosecuting her as a sex offender does seem a bit harsh if you ask me."
                           
                           Do you understand now?  thus, I NEVER said she should be tried as a sex offender.  Therefore, I would appreciate it if you stopped insinuating that i did say that.

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                              Evan G Rogersposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                              I agree with John on this one.
                              
                              IF you're daughter's stupid enough to show put pictures of her naked body on the internet, and her life is shattered because of such idiocy...
                              
                              ... I don't see what "throwing her in jail" is going to do to solve the problem.
                              
                              On top of this, all of this "what if it were your own daughter" BS has GOT to stop. If it were MY daughter, then i'd be saying the exact same thing!!
                              
                              "OH, because it's MY daughter, I want her to go to jail for 10 years"... are you completely daft?

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                                 Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                 sighs*  Evan, look for the thousandth time, I said the girl deserves to be punished, BUT trying her as a sex offender is extreme.  Seriously, I'm on your side of this argument, and have been all along if you actually read my op.  sheesh.

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                                    stclairjackposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                    this is what i tell people when they find themselves in the situation that your in with "john" and ":evan",.....
                                    
                                    arguing with a fool is like playing checkers with a dog,.... you know you'll win, your cousin watching knows you'll win, hell even the dog knows your gona win,.... but the dog will still shit on the carpet,..... kick the dog off the poorch and let it go man,... let it go
                                    
                                    i'm just trying to help man (and i'm willing to bet that you read and understood what i just wrote)

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                                       seanorjohnposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                       Oh no! just when Sufi had smoothed things over.

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                                       Evan G Rogersposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                       Yeah, don't you just hate it when the title of a forum asks a question, and then the REAL question that the OP wants to have answered is quite a bit different?
                                       
                                       It shows such an idiocy of the reader!

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                                    Evan G Rogersposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                    Evidence for why Stevenix2001 should NOT be arguing that I made a mistake in reading:
                                    
                                    The title of the forum post: "Should a 14 yr old be arrested as an adult sex offender?"
                                    
                                    Stevenix2001 wrote this:
                                    "Well somebody reported it, and now she's being tried as a registered sex offender for showing off her naked body on the internet...."
                                    ... in the "Crime and law enforcement" forum of HubPages"
                                    
                                    to which John Holden replied:
                                    
                                    "You're damn right that I wouldn't want my daughter doing such a thing but if she did I'd be asking myself where I'd failed, not punishing her as an adult sex offender."
                                    
                                    ...
                                    
                                    Anyway, i think I've made my point. The OP was talking about trying the daughter as a sex offender; we're in the crime and law enforcement section of the forums...
                                    
                                    ... yeah.

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                                       Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                       Actually, the thread was originally posted in the "family and parenting" category when I posted it originally.  Somebody just reported it to hubpages, and it was moved over to the crimes section without my control.  Therefore, that defeats your argument right there.  However, I'll reiterate this again.  Me, you and John are all the same side on this.  We all agree that trying this girl as a sex offender is harsh and extreme, right?  therefore, I don't see why there should be anymore problems with us.  Thank you again for your time.

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      Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Since I'm having to repeat myself.

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   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   To treat her as an adult and make her a sex offender is absurd. It's a stupid incident and she should be prosecuted as a minor, not as an adult and the charge should be indecent exposure in public.
   
   The "sex" crimes are too broad. It's so absurd that if anyone is caught outside going to the bathroom(because they couldn't hold it), is and can be arrested for a "sex" related crime.
   
   It's a prime example of too much government power over people's life.

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      Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I agree.  I don't know why they're trying her as a sex offender.  I mean she's 14 for Pete's sakes.  I can understand if she was getting charged with indecent exposure, as you said, but this is just ridiculous.

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         Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Hey Steven, see if you can find the story about the 8 year old in California who was tried as an adult for killing his family.
         
         At least I think the kid was 8 years old. And, I'm pretty sure it was in California.

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            Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Oh okay. i'll try to find it then.  just give me a few minutes.  why do you ask though?

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               Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               He was 8 years old and tried as an adult?

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                  Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  okay. not sure what that has to do with this topic, but i found a few videos about a 8 yr old be accused of murder, and a 12 yr old accused of murder as an adult.
                  
                  
                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNmq54Tr … 8F667F7C74
                  
                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmpzaM00 … re=related
                  
                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwZepOHV … ure=relmfu
                  
                  Not sure if any of these cases are the ones your referring to, as they all don't take place in california, but you're more than welcome to watch them if you like.
                  
                  edit:  here's another video i found about this
                  
                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0p2MXn2 … re=related
                  
                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1DWo5rW … re=related

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                     Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     My reference was about putting kids on trial as adults. That is how it is related to your topic. But, thank you for the links.

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                        Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Oh okay. i gotcha.  your welcome about the links.  wow, i can't believe a kid would shoot his own father. that's just crazy.

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                           Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           On one hand, I guess the father asked for it and on another it just goes to show the capability of children, if failed by parents.
                           
                           Before you jump the gun- the father was obviously irresponsible with the gun and bullets to begin with- because had he, then the gun and the bullets would have been in two separate locations or at least in a locked safe the kid wouldn't be able to access.
                           
                           Secondly, it is the failure of the parents to realize that their child wasn't normal to begin with. Only a really sociopath/psychopath would even do what that kid did. How could parents overlook the behavior? It isn't something that just comes on overnight?
                           
                           However, sorry to get off topic with this post. Society is becoming inherently more dangerous as the days continue to come and go.

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                              Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                              Agreed
                              
                              
                              Before I jump the gun?  Cagsil, when have I ever jumped the gun on any issue?  I always make sure I have all the facts straight before making any predetermined judgments on anything. Although I have been wrong before, I never jump to immediate conclusions about anything without having valid reasons to.
                              
                              
                              My thoughts exactly. 
                              
                              
                              I don't disagree with that. To be honest, I'm more concerned about the drug cartels increasing in the US right now if anything.  However, I think the problem is that parents aren't doing enough to discipline their kids these days if you ask me.

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                                 Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                 Jump the gun was in reference to being off topic.
                                 
                                 However, the government in many different states have laws in place, which prevent parents the power and that alone is sad.
                                 
                                 It's pretty bad when our own government, which should lead by example, doesn't but does preach through laws a "do as I say, not as I do" type mentality.

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                                    Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                    Yeah, but you know how politicians are.  It's not they're job to actually care about the people like us, as most of them are nothing more than high priced car salesmen if anything.  kind of sad if you ask me.

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                                       Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                       Agreed.

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      Brenda Durhamposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I agree.

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   Home Girlposted 14 years ago

   The question is whom did she offend other than herself? Kids do stupid things. That one was stupid. I did stupid things as a child too. Once I decided to go away, to leave my house. I took my doll and left. My parents found me on outskirts of our town (rather small at that time). I think my mom was close to having a heart attack, I hardly remember why I did it but remember the fact itself. I was 2,5 years old!!! There were others. Times are different now, kids are bored, they do strange things.

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      Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Hey Homegirl, I would chalk this one incident up to the curious nature kids go through with their sexual nature. Personally, I would think it was innocent and turned into something, just for the purpose of a demonstration of power and control.
      
      It could have been handled much better than putting the girl on trial as an adult sex offender.
      
      Just my thoughts on it.

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      Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      your right.  kids do stupid things all the time. however, i don't see why a kid under 18 should be tried as adult for this, as this is just ridiculous if you ask me.  granted, she deserves to be punished for doing something this irresponsible, but this is just too harsh.

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   David 470posted 14 years ago

   .

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   TLMinutposted 14 years ago

   I often wonder why kids are tried as adults at all. Isn't the whole reason there is a legal distinction made because children are NOT adults and don't have the judgment and impulse control of an adult? If we're not going to try them as minors, there should be no distinction.
   
   Besides, it seems the distinction should be made in the sentencing, not in the trial. Though motive and foresight come into the definition of some crimes, don't know quite how to handle that. The crime was committed or not, how does that differ by age?

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      Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      hmm...you do bring up a lot of valid points there.  to be honest, I'm not sure how to answer your query.  However, it is an interesting analysis there.

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         Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I think severity and public outrage sways political opinion, which is then applied to state or local governments. However, if state/local government isn't going to proceed, as harsh as federal authorities prefer, then federal authorities will most certainly look for a loophole in the Laws so as to trial the case themselves.

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            Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Yeah, that's true.  However, what's the point in having distinct legal terms between minors and adults if we're just going to prosecute a child as an adult anyway based on the crime they commit?

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               Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I think what you are missing Steven is difference of circumstance.

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   Sufidreamerposted 14 years ago

   Easy there, lads - misinterpretation of the written word is very common, as we have no visual clues or body language to go by. You are both nice blokes with interesting things to say - it seems a shame to fall out over a simple misunderstanding.
   
   Grab a beer and chill - it's Friday night!

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      Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, you're right.  It's too beautiful of a day outside to be upset over one little disagreement.  Thanks surfdreamer for being the voice of reason here.

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         John Holdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         OK, can we close this one out by being in 100% agreement on this point

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            Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

            okay, works for me. 

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   seanorjohnposted 14 years ago

   And then there was calm. All's well that ends well.Well done Sufi and well done you two for making up so quickly. ( I was wondering how this would end.)

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   seanorjohnposted 14 years ago

   Oh dear, spoke too soon. Now someone else has jumped in for an argument.

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      Beth100posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Hey Sean! 
      
      Hey Steven, come for a dip in the ocean -- it'll cool you down! 
      
      
      and I think that everyone else should join in too! 
      
      ciao!
      
      Oh, oh, Surfi's here!  All is smoothed again! 
      
       

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         Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!  I think we can all agree on that note.

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            seanorjohnposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Great idea Beth.
            Well done Sufi.
            
            Steven you have nothing to apologise for. Your heart is in the right place. You feel things passionately and that is to be commended not condemned.
            
            I suspect that you are such a fast typist that it is not that surprising that you leave out one word (Parental).

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   Stevennix2001posted 14 years ago

   sheesh, was the op that hard to understand? 

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    seanorjohnposted 14 years ago

    steven, I instinctively knew you meant parental punishment/ chastisement. But that's coz I'm a mind reader. If someone had just asked what you mean't by punishment or you had used the phrase parental punishment, then all this furore would not have happened. I say bring back Sufi to referee.

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       Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, i understand that now.  however, in my op, i know i clearly stated that prosecuting this girl as a sex offender was harsh, so I don't understand why people are saying that I'm for her to be tried as one.  even though i clearly stated otherwise.  it's just frustrating if you ask me. i apologize you saw me lose my temper a bit though.

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    Sufidreamerposted 14 years ago

    I got your meaning, Steven, but I can also see how it was misinterpreted. It happens, sometimes
    
    Let's just say that the argument that should never have happened was Obama's fault, and then we can get back to drinking beer.
    
    It's Greek Independence Day - A good excuse for revelry

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       Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I guess you're right.  Besides, life is too short anyway to be bitter about petty stuff like this.

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    Stevennix2001posted 14 years ago

    Look guys, lets start over from here.  I think we're all in agreement that this girl getting charged as a sexual predator is extreme, right? 
    
    
    Why don't we all just agree on that, and call it a day.

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    gogetter4uposted 14 years ago

    No, not a 14 year old..should not be arrested and tried as an adult. There has to be another way.
    
    also...
    
    they're writing a story on forums books & lit & writing...it's funny & people r adding 2 it 2c how far its goes. go to lets write a story..tell us what's next in the story...this is a good way to get known... have fun..

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