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Proposed law in New Jersey creates controversy

Published  April 8, 2016 9:51pm EDT
U.S.
FOX 29 Philadelphia

NEW JERSEY (WTXF) A proposed law in New Jersey is creating some controversy as it attempts to clarify the difference between immoral and illegal as it relates to teachers sleeping with adult students.

As assemblyman Gusciora pointed out this bill would make it illegal and punishable by up to ten years in jail for a teacher to have sexual contact with their students even if the student is up to 20 years old and the sex is consensual.

Attorney Timothy Smith has successfully defended two cases of teachers who had sex with 18-year-old students. He told FOX 29 one problem is the laws just aren't that clear.

To get your take FOX 29's Bill Anderson posted an online poll and roughly 80 percent of you did not think a teacher should go to jail for having consensual sex with a student who is a legal adult; however, in person people had a different view.