Self Produced Child Pornography: The Appropriate Societal Response to Juvenile Self-Sexual Exploitation

51 Pages Posted: 18 Jun 2008 Last revised: 24 May 2014

See all articles by Mary Graw Leary

Mary Graw Leary

Catholic University of America (CUA)

Date Written: 2008

Abstract

One need only read the newspaper to see a rising dangerous phenomenon among juveniles: the creation and subsequent sharing via the Internet of sexually explicit photographs. This "self exploitation" is not only a tragic social problem, but a growing legal one as well. Judges, attorneys, and legislators, are forced to address this activity because, in addition to being self destructive, it is also a violation of state and federal child pornography laws. Juvenile self exploitation illustrates a clash of two lines of jurisprudence and public policy: the aggressive opposition to child pornography and the more lenient rehabilitative treatment of juvenile self destructive behavior. This article offers an in depth analysis of the appropriate societal and governmental response to this behavior and, specifically, whether juvenile prosecution should remain an option for the state. The article analyzes all the growing number of cases in this area; other legal models including criminal child pornography laws, child prostitution laws, and statutory rape laws; the doctrinal bases for governmental intervention in juveniles' lives; as well as numerous social science studies concerning child pornography's effects. Among those most closely examined are the social harms recognized by social science, the courts, and legislatures. The article concludes that, based upon the vast social harms caused by child pornography to children within and exposed to the images, the purpose of the juvenile justice system, and the need for a deterrent to this behavior, juvenile prosecution should remain an option for the state. While prosecution should not be mandatory, policy makers should create a policy and protocol for addressing this self destructive behavior. The article concludes with a proposed protocol offering guidance to policy makers as to when prosecution befits the activity and when it does not.

Keywords: sexting

Suggested Citation

Graw Leary, Mary, Self Produced Child Pornography: The Appropriate Societal Response to Juvenile Self-Sexual Exploitation (2008). Virginia Journal of Social Policy and the Law, Vol. 15, No. 1, 2008, CUA Columbus School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2008-26, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1147183

Mary Graw Leary (Contact Author)

Catholic University of America (CUA) ( email )

116 McMahon Hall
Washington, DC 20064
United States

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