Program hopes to curb student sexting

CLOVIS — The District Attorney’s Office has launched a new program aimed at students who may be “knowingly or unknowingly” distributing or possessing child pornography.

“Picture This” is a pro-active program … to educate middle school and high school students about the dangers of possessing and distributing child pornography and sending inappropriate messages via social media, also known as ‘sexting,’” according to a news release from DA Andrea Reeb.

“My office takes this issue seriously, and we are working actively with local law enforcement, school administrators, teachers, and students to confront this issue head on,” she wrote in the release. “Our office has seen an uptick in cases where young people are sharing inappropriate photos or videos on different types of social media apps. We reached out to local school administrators in the surrounding areas, and they are completely supporting this much needed pro-active program.”

Program Administrator Pablo Pena has been in the local schools educating students on whether they may be, knowingly or unknowingly, guilty of distribution or possession of child pornography, the release states. Those under 18 can be charged and face up to two years in the New Mexico Youth Diagnostic Development Center, Reeb said.

The release states that recent studies show that victims of sexting are five times more likely to attempt suicide and three times more likely to contemplate suicide than those that have not been victims of sexting.

“After hearing the presentation, teens who might be contemplating suicide have been reaching out to school staff, looking for help,” Reeb said in the release. “If this program helps one teen in our community receive help, it will be well worth the effort that has been put forth.”