An Ohio father who learned that his 11-year-old daughter had been manipulated into sending explicit photos to an adult turned to the police for help.
“It was a complete fail on a legal level and on a human level,” said Scott Berkowitz, founder and president of the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network — the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. “I don’t know who immediately goes to blaming a child in a situation like that. It’s inconceivable.”
Police have not released the father’s name. The AP, which does not identify victims of alleged sexual abuse, reached out to him on social media and by phone this week but did not receive a response. He said the department sometimes provides information on those resources to parents, as well as referrals for services.
Rebecca Epstein, the executive director of the Center on Gender Justice and Opportunity at Georgetown University’s law school, said charges against victims are common. Epstein co-authored a report in April looking at how survivors of sexual assault and abuse are often criminalized. In the early 2000s, as cellphone cameras became common and “sexting” entered the national vernacular, juvenile justice advocates began fighting against prosecutors who wanted to charge minors for consensually sharing explicit images with other minors.
It’s hard to know how many children are charged, partly because prosecutors can use the charges to elicit guilty pleas to lesser offenses, she said.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Officer's threat to charge 11-year-old crime victim draws sharp critique of Columbus policeAn Ohio father who learned that his 11-year-old daughter had been manipulated into sending explicit photos to an adult turned to the police for help
Read more »
19 Ohio schools achieve national academic recognition, majority in Northeast OhioMore than 350 schools are being recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as Blue Ribbon Schools this year; 19 of those are located right here in Ohio, and the majority are in Northeast Ohio.
Read more »
Video shows officer repeatedly discussed charging 11-year-old victim with child sexual abuse offenseA Columbus, Ohio, police officer can be heard repeatedly asserting that an 11-year-old girl could be charged with creating child sexual abuse images of herself
Read more »
Officer said girl, 11, being solicited by adult could be charged with child porn, video showsThe Columbus, Ohio officer made the assertion after being summoned to a home by a father concerned his daughter was being solicited by an adult man.
Read more »