Child Pornography: - Center for Problem-Oriented Policing

Conduct Additional Research
While a good deal is known about the impact of child sexual abuse on children, little is known
about the specific long-term impact of sexual exploitation especially child pornography. 561
Research is also scarce on treatment programs specific to the needs of sexually exploited
children. 562 Without thorough examination and evaluation of law-enforcement, childwelfare,
and service-provision efforts, the justice system cannot accurately understand
the scope, effects, or causes of child sexual exploitation. Consequently extensive research
should be conducted on the number of children victimized annually by sexual exploitation;
the knowledge and attitude of criminal-justice staff members and other professionals serving
sexually exploited children; and the characteristics of adults and others perpetrating the
crimes. 563 Longitudinal studies and evaluations tracking responses from law-enforcement
and service communities should also be pursued.
Conclusion
Sexual exploitation can result in numerous physical and psychological consequences for children
that may be multiplied for victims of child pornography because they face a lifetime of
possible revictimization through the continued distribution of videos, photographs, or computer
images depicting their exploitation. With today's advanced computer technology the
victimization of children can be continuously repeated as visual depictions of their exploitation
are sent through cyberspace. Those images, furthermore, can be used to lower other
children's inhibitions by "normalizing" adult-child sexual behavior.
A comprehensive response by the criminal-justice system is required to stop the continued
victimization of children through child pornography. National and state legislatures should
examine current laws and strengthen any deficiencies by outlawing all aspects of child
pornography including production, distribution, and possession offenses. Conduct violating
current prohibitions should be vigorously investigated and prosecuted.
Law-enforcement agencies and prosecutors must work collaboratively across multiple
jurisdictions and with numerous disciplines. Many successful programs—including NCMEC's
CyberTipline, the FBI's Innocent Images and other initiatives, the US Customs
CyberSmuggling Center, the US Postal Inspection Service, the Internet Crimes Against Children
task-force program, and many state-based investigative teams—are combining forces to
combat child pornography and sexual exploitation. As these professionals handle more cases
they should share their combined expertise with other jurisdictions through cross-training and
education efforts.
The criminal-justice system should also pursue greater community involvement in
developing prevention efforts. It should support the development of or increase in available
treatment for victims and services for at-risk youth including prevention and early intervention.
The progress of law enforcement and service providers should be examined and studied
so that successful programs can be replicated nationally and in other countries.
The combination of international efforts, heightened public awareness, stronger laws, and
stricter enforcement of those laws can help halt the proliferation of child pornography and use
of computers to sexually exploit children.
58 - CHILD PORNOGRAPHY: THE CRIMINAL-JUSTICE-SYSTEM RESPONSE