TEXAS - HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY - ITS RELATED CAUSES AND CONTROL - INTERIM REPORT, 66TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION

• NCJ Number: 55684
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 206 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Texas Legislature
• Publication Type: Legislative/Regulatory Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS INTERIM LEGISLATIVE REPORT ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN TEXAS DISCUSSES SOCIAL RESEARCH ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND PORNOGRAPHY AND LEGAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO ELIMINATE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.

Abstract

ALTHOUGH STUDIES INDICATE ABOUT 100,000 CASES OF SEXUAL ABUSE REPORTED EACH YEAR NATIONALLY, 50-80 PERCENT ARE NEVER REPORTED. BOYS AS WELL AS GIRLS ARE VICTIMIZED, AND CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, MOST CHILD SEXUAL ABUSERS (70 TO 80 PECENT) ARE NOT STRANGERS BY FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS. STUDIES INDICATE THAT THE TYPICAL ABUSER IS A MIDDLE-AGED MALE, UNAGGRESSIVE AND DEPENDENT WHO OFTEN ABUSES ALCOHOL. ADVISE IS GIVEN TO PHYSICIANS ON DETECTING AND HANDLING SUCH ABUSE, AS THEY ARE OFTEN THE FIRST TO ENCOUNTER IT. ABUSIVE FAMILIES ARE OFTEN EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY UNSTABLE, LEADING TO NEGLECT OR POOR CHILD SUPERVISION. ALSO SUCH FAMILIES ARE OFTEN ON PUBLIC WELFARE. FAMILIES IN WHICH INCEST OCCURS ARE GENERALLY INTACT, WITH RIGID FATHERS, WEAK MOTHERS, AND FEW OUTSIDE CONTACTS. LONG-TERM AFFECTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE ON CHILDREN ARE SERIOUS IN PROPORTION TO ITS DURATION, CHARACTER, AND CLOSENESS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OFFENDER AND VICTIM. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE STATUTES SENSITIVE TO ABUSED CHILDREN'S NEEDS. CHILD PORNOGRAPHY (CP) DISTRIBUTED IN TEXAS AND ELSEWHERE OFTEN FEATURES CHILDREN FORCED INTO SEXUAL ACTS, OFTEN HOMOSEXUAL. ALTHOUGH CP IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER IN TEXAS, MAIL-ORDER CP IS VOLUMNIOUS. MOST CP IS PRODUCED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND 80 PERCENT IS DISTRIBUTED BY ORGANIZED CRIME. ALTHOUGH TEXAS LAW PROHIBITS ALL SEXUAL ACTS WITH CHILDREN, PENALTIES ARE OFTEN TOO LIGHT, AND MANY SUCH CRIMES ARE NEVER REPORTED. CHILDREN'S TRAUMA IS SERIOUS IN 93 PERCENT OF ALL REPORTED SEXUAL ABUSE CASES. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE CHILD PROSTITUTION, DEATH FROM SEXUAL ABUSE, FEDERAL AND STATE PROSECUTION OF CP, AND THE EFFECTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ON CP. LEGAL RECOMMENDATIONS, TABULAR DATA AND LISTS OF WITNESSES TESTIFYING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS ARE PROVIDED, AS WELL AS A LIST OF CHILD CARE INSTITUTIONS. (PAP)