The Legislature is expected to debate a bill next week that would address so-called revenge porn, making it illegal to distribute private pictures of another person's private body parts without consent.Ìý
It currently isn't a crime in Nebraska.Ìý
"We're in the minority of states that do not have it as a crime," said Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld, who introduced the bill (LB630). "And it's increasingly prevalent, given the advances in technology."
It would also be illegal to send private pictures of another person engaged in explicit sex without their consent.
The bill would also give some flexibility for prosecutors dealing with juveniles -- anyone below 18 years old -- who send intimate pictures to each other, as long as that exchange is consensual. Now, prosecutors have no leeway other than to charge juveniles 14 and younger who exchange such photos with a felony and a lifetime sex offense.Ìý
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"I think everybody can agree that's not reasonable in 90% of the cases," he said.Ìý
Photographing or filming someone's private body parts without their permission would be a Class IV felony. And distributing those photos would be a Class IIA felony, if it's a first offense. Subsequent offense would get a higher penalty.Ìý
Omaha Sen. Wendy DeBoer, who also introduced a revenge porn bill (LB680), said during the hearing on that bill that sharing intimate photos with strangers, family, co-workers and friends can cause the victim economic damage, emotional distress or problems in their professional or personal lives.
And often, it's an interstate problem when images are shared electronically.