OLR Report 2016-R-0022 describes Connecticut’s law regarding teenagers sending explicit images via an electronic device (i.e., “sexting”).
This law addresses senders of child pornography, ages 13 to 15 years old, and recipients, ages 13 to 17 years old (CGS § 53a-196h). By law, “child pornography” is any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person younger than the age 16. It may include a photograph, film, videotape, or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, digital, mechanical, or other method (CGS § 53a-193(13)).
The sexting law does not address situations in which the (1) image transmitted from the sender to the recipient is subsequently sent by the recipient to a larger audience or (2) sender or recipient’s age is outside the ranges provided above. Depending on the circumstances, these situations may fall under the adult child pornography laws, which are felony crimes.
For more information, read the full report here.
