NCJ Number
66034
Date Published
1980
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THE RECRUITMENT OF MINORS FOR PORNOGRAPHIC FILMS IS DISCUSSED ALONG WITH OTHER ASPECTS OF THE USE OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN PORNOGRAPHIC FILM PRODUCTION.
Abstract
THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF 'KIDDIE PORN' IS EXAMINED IN THIS NARRATIVE EXPOSE OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN BY THEIR OWN PARENTS AND BY OTHER ADULTS. CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 3 YEARS OLD HAVE APPEARED IN PORNOGRAPHIC FILMS DEPICTING SEXUAL RELATIONS AND ENCOUNTERS WITH ADULTS. THESE FILMS ARE EXTREMELY PROFITABLE FOR THE PRODUCERS AND DISTRIBUTORS, WITH YEARLY PROFITS OF OVER $10 MILLION. BECAUSE INITIAL INVESTMENT COSTS ARE VERY LOW, NUMEROUS PEOPLE BECOME INVOLVED IN THE INDUSTRY AS A MEANS OF EARNING EXTRA MONEY. PARENTS MAKE THEIR CHILDREN PERFORM IN THESE FILMS, AS WELL AS POSE FOR PORNOGRAPHIC MAGAZINES, TO BRING IN EXTRA INCOME. BUT MANY CHILDREN UNWITTINGLY BECOME INVOLVED, AS IN THE CASE OF A FRIENDLY SUBURBAN COUPLE WHO SHELTERED RUNAWAYS AND WHO THEN CHARGED THEM 'RENT' IN THE FORM OF HAVING THEM APPEAR IN PORNOGRAPHIC FILMS. A SUPREME COURT DECISION WHICH LEFT OBSCENITY STANDARDS UP TO INVIDIDUAL COMMUNITIES HAS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED THE PROLIFERATION OF 'KIDDIE PORN' IN FILMS AND MAGAZINES. A SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE UNIT IN LOS ANGELES WAS ORGANIZED TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM IN THAT COMMUNITY. THE TRAFFIC IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY MUST BE STOPPED, BECAUSE WHAT MAY APPEAR TO BE HARMLESS 'FUN' TO SOME PURCHASERS OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL OFTEN LEADS TO TRAUMATIC, PHYSICAL ABUSE FOR THE CHILDREN INVOLVED, AND HAS LED TO THE DEATHS OF AT LEAST 18 BOYS IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA. THE ARTICLE GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBES THE ADULT PERVERSIONS TO WHICH THE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY BUSINESS, PARTICUARLY FILMS, DIRECTS ITSELF. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. FOR RELATED ARTICLES, SEE NCJ 66033. (PRG)