The American Civil Liberties Union has joined a previously filed federal lawsuit against Marion County Attorney Ed Bull.

It’s related to a case where numerous Knoxville students allegedly exchanged sexually explicit photographs, and Bull says he looked for a solution where students could learn from their mistakes without the need of being detained or potentially having to face charges that could result in their being labeled as sex offenders. Students were required to admit guilt and relinquish their cell phones for a period of time. One student identified as “Nancy Doe” in court documents and her parents objected, and filed their suit in Federal Court asserting that her photos were not explicit. According to the ACLU, Doe’s parents object to the threats of prosecution as well as the county attorney’s alternatives. In the lawsuit, which seeks no monetary reward or damages, they ask only that the threats of prosecution, as well as required actions to avoid prosecution, be dropped. Bull tells KNIA/KRLS News he understands and sympathizes with the juvenile in this situation, but feels that given how current law is written, and with appropriate use of prosecutorial discretion, his office has come up with a reasonable solution that does not criminalize juveniles. He says the solution is similar to those offered by many other prosecutors in the state. Given how new technologies have influenced juveniles and how they interact digitally as adolescents, this may be a matter for the Iowa Legislature to take up. Until that time his office is working under current law, and looks forward to the issue being resolved in court.