§ 53a-196j — Harmful communication with a minor: Class A misdemeanor.

(a) As used in this section: (1) “Minor” means any person under eighteen years of age, or who the actor reasonably believes to be under eighteen years of age; (2) “Interactive computer service” has the same meaning as provided in section 53a-90a ; (3) “Inappropriate relationship” means a relationship that is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is a suitable relationship between an adult and a minor; and (4) “Harmful to the minor” means communication with a minor that is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is a suitable form of communication between an adult and a minor. (b) A person, who is twenty-five years of age or older, is guilty of harmful communication with a minor when such person uses an interactive computer service or text message to knowingly persuade, induce, entice or coerce a minor to: (1) Share a photographic or other recorded image of the minor for the purpose of providing sexual gratification to the person who requests that the image be shared, (2) share a photographic or other recorded image of the minor, which the person who requests the image then disseminates to one or more third persons for the purpose of providing sexual gratification to such third persons, (3) engage in any communication that is part of a pattern of communication or behavior designed to form or maintain an inappropriate relationship, or (4) engage in any communication that is harmful to the minor. (c) For the purposes of this section, a violation may be deemed to have been committed either at the place where the communication originated or at the place where it was received. (d) Harmful communication with a minor is a class A misdemeanor.

Legislative History

(P.A. 23-123, S. 1; P.A. 24-24, S. 24.) History: P.A. 24-24 made a technical change in Subsec. (b).