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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSuicide of teen who made sex video shows dilemma for schools
CHICAGO (AP) Staff at a suburban Chicago high school called 16-year-old Corey Walgren to the deans office to ask about a video he made of himself having sex with a classmate. A few hours later, the teen walked to the top of a five-story parking deck and jumped.
The suicide of the honor-roll student underscored a dilemma for schools when confronting students suspected of recording and sharing sexual images: Should school officials wait until parents arrive to pose questions and search cellphones for illicit photos or video? Or do they, as de facto parents, have the authority to investigate crimes that might include child pornography?
The issue also raises a high-stakes legal question because many child porn laws predate the phenomena of teens sharing sexual images by cellphone. And neither they nor their parents usually have any idea that doing so can trigger serious penalties, including being labeled a sex offender for life.
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His parents have sued the school, accusing it in a federal lawsuit of unnecessarily traumatizing their son by warning him he could be charged and forced to register as a sex offender. They are seeking more than $5 million in damages.
They scared the hell out of the kid, and thats what drove Corey to kill himself, said Maureen and Doug Walgrens attorney, Terry Ekl.
https://www.apnews.com/c12027bf63604fa4968cd24df9afe58d/Suicide-of-teen-who-made-sex-video-shows-dilemma-for-schools?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP
MineralMan
(146,285 posts)present in such situations. Teenagers are not completely competent to make decisions that affect themselves. I do not believe that they should be confronted and questioned about a situation that could possibly be criminal in nature without a parent present. The parent should know their own child's potential behaviors better than a school official or law enforcement official.
"Scared straight" can lead to being "scared to death," as has been seen all too often.
JI7
(89,246 posts)Especially if it's their own video.
JI7
(89,246 posts)that should not be considered criminal at all.
Maybe they can teach about dangers of making such video by those who are young but to all students.
sarisataka
(18,582 posts)he activated it to get an audio recording of a consensual encounter
Impeach Trump
(93 posts)The parents should have been called in such a serious charge if indeed the school intended to call in the authorities.
ismnotwasm
(41,975 posts)He made the video without his partners permission,which is fucked up. Absolutely the patents should have been involved here.
Volaris
(10,269 posts)De facto parents maybe (as the article states). De facto law enforcement or qualified legal consul? ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOT. call mom and dad. Have them bring an atty. THEN have a conversation with the kids.
JI7
(89,246 posts)ismnotwasm
(41,975 posts)They should have brought in the parents, as this can be criminal.
NutmegYankee
(16,199 posts)This kid was told he'd be ruined for life and scorned as the worst type of person on earth (sex offender) for a stupid childish act and he felt he had no choice but to kill himself.
This should have been left to the parents.