NCJ Number
122801
Date Published
1987
Length
58 pages
Annotation
Child pornography results from the abuse and misuse of the adult-child power imbalance.
Abstract
Children are essentially a captive population, totally dependent on parents or other adults for their basic needs. Thus, they will do whatever they perceive to be necessary to preserve the relationship with their caretakers. Child pornography, defined as a permanent record of the sexual abuse of children, is facilitated by the adult-child power imbalance. Child pornography constitutes sexually explicit depictions of children, whether written, photographed, or drawn, with the intent of sexually stimulating adults. It is produced in various forms, such as books, magazines, photographs, films, slides, tapes, and video cassettes. Child pornography perpetrators include not only those who actively seek sexual gratification from children, but also those who produce, distribute, and profit from it. Although it is possible that any child can become a victim of child pornography, research studies indicate that most victims have certain characteristics and behaviors in common. Children who are victimized are often unsupervised and in need of attention and approval from adults. Most victims are between 8 and 16 years of age. Accurate statistics regarding child pornography are not available, but profits from the entire pornography industry were estimated at $9 billion in 1986. Some experts estimate that the use of children under 18 years of age in pornography constitutes 5 to 10 percent of the total industry, while others believe this figure is extremely low since child molestation is grossly under-reported. Public attitudes toward child pornography and the issue of censorship are discussed, along with policy issues for consideration by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. Supplemental information on Federal and Pennsylvania laws relating to child pornography is appended. 22 references.