BARRINGTON, R.I. — Three kids from 12 to 17 years old have all been arrested this year in one Rhode Island town for sexting or cyber stalking.
Within 10 months, the 12-, 15-, and 17-year-old were arrested in Barrington, but now Rhode Island ACLU Executive Director Steven Brown called the police department's actions "overzealous" in a letter to the chief.
"There is never a time, I don't think, when a 12-year-old child, who sends a nude picture of himself to another person, should find themselves arrested, there are other ways to deal with it,” he said.
“There are other ways to approach it by having sit downs with kids, whether it's parents, whether it's counselors, to explain to them why it's a bad idea to do these things, that makes a lot more sense and I think a lot more productive and positive,” he said.
In a letter sent to Eyewitness News, Barrington Police Chief John LaCross said kids need to be aware of where the line is.
“You will see that we do have similar concerns about educating the youth population regarding the improper use of cell phone technology,” he said.
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