PITTSFIELD, Mass - It's an emerging problem with teenagers texting pornographic images of themselves. Often referred to as "sexting," prosecutors in Berkshire County have already encountered it. Now the district attorney's office is stepping up efforts to get it under control.

"A lot of times kids don't think that once they hit the send button, they lose complete control of that image," said Berkshire County Assistant District Attorney Robert Kinzer.

Kinzer prosecutes in the computer crimes unit. He says the first problem is texting the images, themselves, which often end up on the Internet. But the second problem is more complicated - making parents aware of an emerging technology crime when many don't even understand what it is.

"Our first step is, let's start talking to people, educating them, getting the word out about what this is, and hopefully we can have an impact at home, dealing with the parent, as opposed to the courtroom and dealing with these consequences of the legal system," said Kinzer.

It's a legal system that may include child pornography charges and possible jail time, even for minors. That's something the DA's office wants to avoid.

"We don't want our young people to end up in the criminal justice system for making a poor choice," said Berkshire County District Attorney Community Outreach Director Carol Mulcahy.

Connected to sexting is some of the online language and code kids are using, most of which is too graphic to print. But the point is, many parents need a crash course in internet acronyms, online safety, and cell phone technology before it's too late.

"Parents may not know that cell phone providers carry plans for parental control, giving them access to all the messages that are sent and received," said Kinzer.

They're messages that could be a criminal case if not first policed by parents.