NCJ Number
9964
Date Published
1971
Length
241 pages
Annotation
ANALYSIS OF SUPREME COURT DECISIONS AND STATE LAWS ON OBSCENITY AND PORNOGRAPHY AND OUTLINE OF THE CENSORSHIP LAWS OF SEVERAL FOREIGN NATIONS.
Abstract
THE STATUS OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW ON THE SUBJECT AS OF THE YEAR 1970 IS SUMMARIZED. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS DEVOTED TO THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT DECISION IN STANLEY V. GEORGIA, WHICH HELD THAT AN INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT BE PUNISHED FOR POSSESSING OBSCENE MATERIAL IN THE PRIVACY OF HIS HOME. THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LAWS REGULATING OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS IN ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES IS TRACED. A PERSPECTIVE IS PROVIDED ON THE PHILOSOPHICAL DEBATE OVER THE ROLE OF THE STATE IN LEGISLATING PRIVATE MORALS. THE LAWS OF SELECTED FOREIGN NATIONS ON OBSCENE SEXUAL MATERIALS ARE DESCRIBED AND COMMENTED UPON BY DISTINGUISHED LEGAL SCHOLARS. THIS IS THE SECOND OF EIGHT TECHNICAL REPORTS WHICH PROVIDED THE BASIS FOR THE COMMISSION'S CONCLUSIONS. FOR THE OTHER TECHNICAL REPORTS, SEE NCJ-008074 THROUGH NCJ-008076, NCJ-009648, AND NCJ-009965 THROUGH NCJ-009967. FOR THE OFFICIAL COMMISSION REPORT, SEE NCJ-0080779