September 03, 2022 Last Updated: September 30, 2024 by Anthony Riccio
Which is harsher, federal or state charges for child pornography? If you’re facing legal consequences for child pornography, understanding the difference between federal and state laws is crucial.
Few offences are viewed in a worse light than the sexual exploitation of a child. As such, they are often pursued to the fullest extent of the law.
Every state has its own set of laws governing child pornography. However, the sexual exploitation of a minor is also a federal crime. When child pornography charges are brought, it is important to know which government agency has jurisdiction.
Keep reading to find out which one holds harsher consequences.
Child pornography is a generalised term used to describe a wide range of illegal activities and materials. Currently, child pornography consists of any visual depictions of minors engaged in a sexual activity, no clothing, or less clothing than reasonable clothing.
Illegal activities include:
Visual depictions may be illustrated, written, or computer generated.
The federal government and all 50 states have laws against child pornography. However, whether the charges are prosecuted in state or federal court largely depends on the following factors:
Child pornography charges can be prosecuted at both state and federal levels, depending on the specifics of the crime.
If you are accused of sending or receiving child porn to someone outside of Massachusetts, your case will likely be held in federal court.
Yes, people can be charged in both state and federal court for the same crime. Under the doctrine of dual sovereignty, if a person breaks the law in each government, both have the right to pursue charges. The state and the national government are considered separate sovereigns.
For example, a Minnesota man was arrested on state child pornography charges involving prepubescent children. Federal prosecutors also indicted the man for production and attempted production of child porn.
However, in some cases, one sovereign may drop or dismiss charges while the other continues to prosecute. In Iowa, state child pornography production and distribution charges were dropped while the federal charges remain.
While there are subtle variances between the law, the biggest difference is how states and federal courts penalise child pornography.
Under Massachusetts law, a conviction of producing child pornography carries the following penalties:
Federal penalties tend to be more severe. For example, if a person coerces someone under the age of 18 into engaging in a sex act for the production of visual materials, they can be punished by:
Penalties depend on the number of offences. In many cases, a third offence for child pornography will result in the maximum sentence.
The state penalties for child pornography possession include:
Federal child pornography possession penalties depend on the age of the child. For example, if the child is 12 years old or older, a person can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. However, if the child depicted in the material is prepubescent or under 12, the offending party can spend up to 20 years behind bars.
State law penalises distributing, or disseminating, child porn as such:
Under federal law, the penalty for distributing child pornography is 20 years in prison for a first offence.
Child pornography has steadily declined in recent years. According to a detailed study by the United States Sentencing Commission, child pornography offences have decreased by 35.8% over the last four years.
In the last reporting year, more than 1,000 cases of child pornography were reported to the U.S. Sentencing Commission:
The majority of those convicted for child pornography had no prior history of offences. In fact, 72.9% of cases have no criminal history.
Being convicted of child pornography generally involves time in prison. Of all child pornography offenders, 99.3% were sentenced to federal prison. The average prison sentence was 8 years, though sentences differed across charges:
It is important to note that charges are often stacked in federal and state cases. Multiple charges can lead to consecutive sentences.
When a person is convicted of multiple offences, the judge has the discretion to impose either concurrent or consecutive sentences, each carrying different implications for the length of time served.
Below is a comparison between consecutive and concurrent sentencing:
| Criteria | Concurrent Sentencing | Consecutive Sentencing |
| Definition | Sentences served at the same time | Sentences served one after another |
| Total Time Served | Shorter, as all sentences run together | Longer, as each sentence is served separately |
| Example | 3 charges of 5 years = 5 years total | 3 charges of 5 years = 15 years total |
| Common Use | Less severe crimes or first-time offenders | More serious crimes or repeat offenders |
| Judicial Discretion | May be used in plea deals or for mitigating circumstances | Often applied for crimes with multiple victims |
| Impact on Parole Eligibility | May be eligible for parole earlier | Delayed parole eligibility due to the longer sentence |
| Public Perception | Viewed as more lenient | Viewed as a harsher penalty |
The federal government and the state of Massachusetts take a hard stance against child pornography. If accused, a person may be charged in both courts. When judges decide to use consecutive sentences, it is not uncommon for a convicted offender to spend decades behind bars.
Contact a qualified child pornography defence attorney in Massachusetts today to ensure your rights are protected and to build a strong defence from the start.
