As reported by Talia Buford in the March 2, 2010 Providence Journal, a bill has been introduced at the General Assembly to protect minors engaged in "sexting." Under current Rhode Island law, minors caught "sexting" can be prosecuted under the child pornography statute. If convicted, minors would be labeled as a lifetime sex offender. Under the proposed bill, minors caught sexting would be referred to Family Court and charged with a status offense. If convicted, the minor would be treated with intervention and counseling instead of jail time. On April 7, 2010, the House Committee on Judiciary held a hearing on the proposed sexting bill.
