Pornography
A Guide to Selected Government Information
Available at WIU's Government Publications Library
(Prepared by Ashley Schoolman - 2/03, revised 6/06)
Web version of this guide includes links to web resources.
Federal Government Information
Proliferation of Child Pornography on the Internet
In this hearing to address the problem of child pornography via the Internet, information is shared by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the FBI.
An anonymous parent advocate shares her story as well. 1997
Y 4.AP 6/2:S.HRG. 105-214
Obscene Material available via the Internet
This hearing addresses the availability and abundance of pornography on the internet, and blames internet pornography for all kinds of problems that must be stopped.
Contains: "The electronic frontier: the challenge of unlawful conduct involving the use of the internet".
Y4.C 73/8:106-115
Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1995
A hearing on S. 1237, which would statutorily define child pornography to include "any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct, however produced, if its
depiction involves, seems to involve, or promotes a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct." Includes testimony from the Deputy Assistant Attorney General,
the Chief Counsel of the National Law Center for Children and Families, and the Director of the American Library Association, among others.
Y 4.J 89/2:S. HRG. 104-870
Cyberporn and Children: The Scope of the Problem, the State of the Technology, and the Need for Congressional Action
The first Congressional hearing on pornography and the Internet. Witnesses providing testimony include victims, parents, journalists, America Online representatives,
content rating advocates, among others. 1995
Y 4.J 89/2:S. HRG. 104-438
lllinois Government Information
Sex Offenses. Part of the Criminal Code of 1961, this is the Illinois law regarding obscenity and
child pornography. Definitions and sentencing classifications are provided, as are guidelines for forfeiture of particular assets upon conviction. Distribution
of harmful material is also covered.
720 ILCS 5/11-6 et al
Legal Information
Criminal Law --Sentencing Guidelines -- Ninth Circuit Holds That Trafficking in Child Pornography Does Not Constitute a Pattern of Sexual Exploitation of Minors
This article examines what the author believes to be the unfair sentence recently delivered in United States v. Kemmish (120 F.3d 937). It is the author's
view that, while sentencing distinctions between traffickers and producers are acceptable, the court failed to fully consider the potential variations among traffickers.
Harvard Law Review February 1998, Vol. 111, No. 4 pp. 1104-1109
The Telecommunications Act of 1996: Law and Legislative History
A thorough and detailed examination of the entire Telecommunications Act of 1996, including Title V, the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which protects
from obscene usage of telecommunication devices. Regulations for indecent programming on cable television and clarifications of current computer law are included.
LEGL REF KF 2762.115 .A15 1996
A Guide to America's Sex Laws
State comparisons of statutory provisions on a wide variety of sex-related topics, including possession of obscene materials and obscene communications.
LEGL REF KF 9325.G85 1996
"Newsgathering and Child Pornography Research : the Case of Lawrence Charles Matthews"
An interesting article concerning the plight of a journalist charged with possession of child pornography while doing research for a magazine piece on the subject.
Read about his struggle with the courts and get a more in-depth look at the laws surrounding child pornography and the rights of researchers.
Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems Summer 2000, Vol.33, No. 4, p. 343.
Sex and the City: Zoning pornography peddlers and live nude shows
This article looks at the sociological impact of pornography, derived from where it is concentrated. Lasker claims that city zoning ordinances serve to strategically keep
adult business in certain areas, serving to maintain its degenerate image while at the same time oppressing women.
UCLA Law Review April 2002, Vol. 49, No. 4, p. 1139
Obscenity & Pornography Decisions of the USSC
This book showcases 14 of the landmark supreme court decisions on obscenity and pornography. All are plain-English versions of the official legal texts issued by the Supreme
Court. The topics covered are varied and interesting.
LEGL REF KF 9444.A7 0313 2000.
"Can Anyone Stop Internet Porn?"
The story of the attempts to get anti-pornography bills upheld by the courts. Arguments for and against the idea are recognized. There is a table of "Acts at a glance" giving
a synopsis of when and what the different bills are and what has been their outcomes.
ABA Law Journal Sept. 2002, Vol. 88, No. 9, p. 56
Explaining Citizens' Attitudes Toward Pornography: Differential effects of predictors across levels of geographic proximity to outlet sources
This study focuses on the factors of several independent variables such as race, education, age, and religious affiliation and their effect on attitudes toward
availability and location of pornography outlets.
Justice Quarterly Dec 1998, Vol. 16, No. 4, p. 735
You've got Indecent E-mail!
This article provides a comprehensive plan of action about the problem of indecent e-mail. It examines the First Amendment and from there begins to form a model
regulation to protect minors and adults from unwelcome pornography SPAM. This regulation is then proposed and analyzed, and is found to be in accordance with
First Amendment rules.
Wisconsin Law Review 1999, No. 6, p. 1259.
Strike Two: An analysis of the Child Online Protection Act's Constitutional Failures
Another article on Congress's attempts to keep pornography away from minors, a short description of the Communications Decency Act is given, then the article
launches into a detailed description of the cases against COPA. The last section is a short theory on the reasons why drafting such laws within
constitutional bounds is so difficult.
Federal Communications Law Journal Dec 1999, Vol. 52, No. 1, p. 155.
The Perverse Law of Child Pornography
An interesting study and approach on a growing subject. The author claims that perhaps by taboo-ing and giving so much attention to child pornography, we are
creating and reinforcing the problem by exposing it to people and giving it a stigma. This theory could possibly be used to explain a number of other trends,
such as drug and alcohol abuse.
Columbia Law Review March 2000, Vol. 101, No. 2, p. 209.
Protecting Children--And Free Speech
Another article about the difficult task of preventing and outlawing child pornography. This article concerns two of the CPPA's provisions that were struck
down as overbroad and unconstitutional. Mentions the problem of virtual and CG Kiddie Porn, and some of the other questionable aspects of the subject.
Trial July 2002, p. 80.