Eighth-graders asked questions about whether juvenile offenders must register on a sex offender website and how to distinguish between degrees of criminal sexual conduct during a presentation Wednesday at Jefferson Middle School.

Midland County District Court Judge Philip Van Dam and Prosecutor Norm Donker talked with students about sexual conduct laws and consequences of violating them.

"We're going to talk about sexual things that will be very explicit," Van Dam told students at the beginning of the program. "The whole subject is one of self-respect. This program is designed to provide explanation as to how criminal sexual conduct is defined. By understanding the law you can provide respect for yourself and help others avoid becoming victims."

Donker said during the past two years there have been more than 100 criminal sexual conduct cases through the court system - 85 in adult court and 15 in juvenile court.

"Michigan has very harsh penalties when it comes to CSC cases," Donker said. "Two things as adults that you'll enjoy in our society is the right to drive and the right to engage upon consensual sexual activity. Just like if you drive without a license there are consequences if you engage in (illegal) sexual activity."

Consequences can range up to life in prison depending on the degree of the offense. All convicted offenders must register on the Internet in the Michigan sex offender registry, submit to testing for sexually transmitted diseases, provide a DNA sample, report to law enforcement to verify their addresses four times a year, tell prospective employers they've been convicted of a felony and fulfill other court-ordered requirements.

"It's truly an area where ignorance of the law is not an excuse," Donker said.

The program supports a state law enacted Oct. 1 that requires Michigan school districts teaching sex education to include information that having sex with an individual under 16 is a crime punishable by imprisonment and that a person convicted of having sex with a minor will be listed in the offender registry on the Internet for at least 25 years.