Sensible sexting law?

While New Jersey's top legal story surely is the sweeping tale of political corruption, organ harvesting and fake designer handbag trafficking, I'll turn away shocked, but – as a New Jersey native, not really surprised -- and instead offer an update on a topic that now seems innocent by comparison: sexting.

Garden State lawmakers are considering bills that would decriminalize sexting when it's perpetrated by teens with age-appropriate poor judgment. Instead, the law would require sexting teens to take a course that teaches them why sexting is a bad idea, both legally and reputationally.

The bill is a response to the decision in June to charge a 14-year-old with distribution of child pornography after she posted nude photos of herself on MySpace. This alleged sexter was eventually given probation and counseling. Prosecutions of other teens on similar charges have led to Constitutional court battles and a general sense among many observers and parents that courts may not be the ideal environment to deal with this phenomenon.