Children Accessed Pornography in School
My question involves criminal law for the state of: Utah
My seven year old daughter was shown child pornography during her computer lab time by another seven year old student. Turns out several other children (10-12) were shown this clip or others like it and were viewing it on their computer. The school has discovered the site that was visited, and was able to add it to our internet filter. The school administrator conducted an investigation and the students who were caught viewing the video were suspended for a few days. I am concerned the school did not handle this properly. We have a social worker, but she was not brought in to interview the students. Should the police have been called in this instance?
Re: Pornography in School
child pornography?
yes, the police should have been informed but not necessarily to deal with anything actually involving the children. Crimes are viewed very differently when it comes to children that age.
but how do you know the police were not contacted?
Re: Pornography in School
My daughter explained quite explicitly a sex scene between a man and a boy. I then contacted the principal with this information and he began his investigation. The site the students visited had different "movies", some pornography and some child pornography. My daughter and some of her friends definitely saw one that was child pornography.
I am not suggesting a crime was committed by a seven year old. My concern is that the principal handled the situation on his own without any guidance from a social worker or the authorities. We have a social worker at the school, but she was not brought in until AFTER the kids were questioned and suspended.
I am very involved in the school and am president of our parent organization. I voiced my concerns of the handling of the situation to the Principal and he said the authorities were not contacted (when I asked). I am also concerned that parents of the other children were not informed that it may have been child pornography. I specifically asked the principal if he told the parents it may have been child pornography. He became defensive and said he may or may not have, he did not "read from a script". I am just very disappointed at how this was handled and can't help but think he was trying to avoid and hide the fact that child pornography (not just pornography) was viewed.
Re: Pornography in School
Since it was your child, why didn't you call the police?
Have you talked to the other parents? If the admin handled it improperly, it is much more difficult to blow off a group of parents than it is one parent.