Crime & Safety
Dumont Police Department educates parents on topic of "sexting"
DPD teams up with Dumont Public Schools to share information and statistics at presentation for parents of school children
On February 4, 2020, the Dumont Police Department, in conjunction with the Dumont Schools District, held a presentation on "Sexting and the Consequences" for parents of school children.
The presentation, hosted at Dumont High School, covered a broad range of topics, including:
- what "sexting" is;
- why children are sexting;
- sexting statistics;
- sexting among Dumont school children;
- relevant criminal code provisions;
- action plans;
- parental awareness;
- sexting text codes and emojis used; and
- what parents can do.
Calling the topic a "necessary conversation that has to take place", Lt. Brian Joyce of the Dumont Police Department recommended that parents watch the video "Ally's Story: Second Thoughts on Sexting", which is available for viewing on YouTube:
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Lt. Joyce explained that sexting by a juvenile primarilily "occurs with the purpose of gaining approval of a person with whom they are romantically interested".
Among the recommendations offered was that parents have an open talk with their child, explaining the dangers and legal issues involved.
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Parents attending also received a number of helpful flyers and handouts, including:
- Secret Texting Codes Your Children Could Be Using;
- Mobile Phone Apps and Their Dangers;
- Social Media Monitoring Tools for Parents; and
- Sexting Advice for Teens.
The Dumont Police Department also shared the details of some specific sexting incidents which have occurred among Dumont school children in the recent past.
