Bill could lock teens up for over a decade

Last month, the House of Representatives approved a bill that has the potential to lock up teens for more than a decade. The effort goes against a growing push to change the justice system nationwide so that kids — the country’s most vulnerable — aren’t robbed of chances at reform or treated as adults in the system.

Called the Protecting Against Child Exploitation Act of 2017, the bill would enact a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years for, among other things, using phones to exchange nude photos. It landed in the Senate Judiciary Committee this week.

Though it is intended to close loopholes exploited by child pornographers, the law, which expressly states that the mandatory minimums will apply equally to an attempt or a conspiracy, could affect teenagers engaging in consensual nude photo exchanges, which according to a Drexel University study, most teens do. Fifty-four percent of surveyed college students confirmed sending or receiving sexually explicit text messages or images when they were under age 18. Nearly all of the exchanges were in a consensual, flirting context.

Such behavior among teens is not unexpected. Scientists estimate the human brain is not fully formed until the age of 25. Until their cognitive skills are fully developed, adolescents are likely to be impulsive and unable to focus on the consequences of their behavior. Encouragingly, they are also receptive to change and likely to grow out of negative or delinquent behavior.

Congress should follow the lead of some 20 states that have passed laws that specifically provide for less severe punishment — misdemeanor charges allowing for expungement, community service and counseling — when juveniles are found to have shared personal images.

For examples of how the law can go terribly wrong, consider these middle schools students in Valparaiso, Ind. The 13-year-old girl and 12-year-old boy were charged with child pornography and child exploitation after reportedly exchanging nude photos of themselves.

The largest teen sexting scandal involved more than 100 students who were found to have exchanged nude pictures in Cañon City, Colo.

At the time, Thom LeDoux, the county’s district attorney, intimated he would only consider charges where bullying, coercion or website postings were suspected. The decision to bring charges is at the discretion of prosecutors, which Rep. John Conyers, DMich., sees as a problem: “Given the new (tough on crime) policy of the attorney general, we are under a new regime here at the federal level, and I can’t depend on relying on the prosecutorial discretion to protect juveniles under this statute.”

Conyers and other minority House members accounted for nearly all of the 51 no votes for the bill that passed by 368. People of color have reason for concern. The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services found that of the 28,000 16- and 17-year-olds arrested and faced with the possibility of prosecution as adults in criminal court in 2015, 70 percent were black or Latino.

As a result of these studies and the Raise the Age initiative, New York passed legislation making the majority of cases involving 16- and 17-yearold defendants to be diverted to family court, where the teens will have access to social services and special training. Now North Carolina stands as the only state that charges 16- and 17-year-old defendants as adults.

In a statement, Rep. Bobby Scott, DVa., called the congressional bill particularly appalling: “Giving lip service to the suggestion that you would have preferred that the mandatory minimum had not been in the bill and then voting for the bill anyway not only creates that new mandatory minimum, but it also guarantees that mandatory minimums will be included in the next crime bill.”

Yolanda Young is executive director of Lawyers of Color and an on-air commentator for TV One’s News One Now with Roland Martin. Email her at Yo landa@OBABL.com; Twitter, @yolan dayoungesq and @lawyersofcolor.org. OPINIONS.

My mother passed away nearly two years ago at the age of 90. Her greatest passion was staying connected to all of us, wanting to know what was going on in our lives as some of us didn’t live near her.

Her other passion was keeping on top of world news, mostly through television, so she was pretty dialed in on what was going on in the world.

On one of my trips I stopped in to visit her. Mom was watching the news on television when all of a sudden she looked over at me and said, “Armageddon will be here shortly” and then

Thank you, Bob Ortega for an insightful article about a foster case gone awry (“A horrifying journey through Arizona foster care.”)

These stories are always heartbreaking — the fact that any child can face such difficult issues is intensely sad.

I’d argue though that the overwhelming majority of foster families are truly in it for the good of the child. Just this week I met a female firefighter who is a single mom to three children in foster care, a couple who brought piles of clothing to donate to Arizona Helping Hands after giving up their foster license, having served 35 children during their 15 years of fostering and many more loving foster parents.

These individuals take on incredible responsibilities, and a 24/7 job to make life better for kids who need that one caring adult in their lives. These are the heroes .... #StandUp

— Scottsdale The writer is president of Arizona

Helping Hands.

Perhaps Mr. Trump could learn a little something from his wife Melania. She copped a good portion of Michelle Obama’s speech.

Remember when you were little and your mom made you wait an hour after eating before you could get in the water for a swim? Well, we need a similar rule today for social media.

How’s this: You must wait at least one hour before tweeting or retweeting anything you see or hear or think.

Hopefully, this will give you (and I mean all of you — politicians, celebrities, journalists, as well as ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill boring citizens) time to think about it first.

Time to ask yourself, on a scale of 1-10, who else on this planet, other than you, really cares what you think on this particular earth-shattering topic. I have no idea how many characters are in this, but feel free to tweet your opinion on it. In an hour.

— Phoenix

At last Trump’s tweet “Covfefe” defined. It describes McCain’s bumbling, stumbling performance during Comey’s testimony. —

My wife and I have supported Sen. John McCain over many years. However, after his disjointed, rambling, inaccurate questioning of James Comey, it is apparent he is losing his faculties for comprehending and analyzing even simple parts of a complex matter. I’m sorry, John, but your appearance this morning has convinced us that it is time for you to step aside. Thanks for your many years of loyal service. — Sun City Mesa