Editor's note: Below is a new weekly column from state police Trooper Derrick White, who will be answering readers' questions about traffic laws and other areas of police work.

Q: Can teens really go to jail for "sexting"?

A: Yes they can. But first let me explain what "Sexting" is and the many problems that arise from it. Sexting is a current hot topic in area high schools, as school administrators are forced to deal with its fallout on a daily basis. Sexting is defined as the sending of sexually explicit photos via text messaging. Many times it begins with someone taking a nude cell phone photo of themselves and sending it to their boyfriend or girlfriend.

As most high school relationships usually go, the couple eventually breaks up. The photo ends up getting forwarded to others at the school and the student depicted in the picture faces endless embarrassment and harassment. This tends to lead to a host of other problems and has even led to suicide in some extreme cases.

But is it illegal? If the person in the photograph is at least 18 years old, then there is no law that forbids it. The legal problems arise when underage kids take nude photos of themselves and send them to others. If a photograph depicts a person younger than 18 as nude or partially nude, then it could be considered child pornography. So could they go to jail? Yes. A person that takes the photograph could be charged with Producing/Manufacturing Child Sexually Abusive Material, which is a 20-year felony. Anyone that forwards or simply possesses these pictures could face child pornography charges as well.

Ultimately, it would be up to the prosecutor and judge to determine if a kid was charged and sentenced to any jail time. There have been several instances across the country in which teens have been convicted of child porn charges and not only sentenced to prison, but are placed on their state's Sex Offender Registry for up to 25 years.

Aside from the threat of possible criminal charges, teenagers need to realize that once they send that photo, they no longer have any control over it. The photo could be sent to every kid at their school or even worse, end up on the Internet. It could very well end up haunting them for the rest of their lives.

-- Questions can be sent to White at jacksontrooper@gmail.com, or Attn: Trooper Derrick White, Michigan State Police -- Jackson Post, 3401 Cooper St, Jackson, MI 49201.