Child Pornography

by Alisdair A. Gillespie

Child Pornography: Law and Policy draws on interdisciplinary work in order to critically address the law relating to child pornography. Child pornography is recognized as a specific form of child abuse and there are now many national, and international, efforts to tackle it. Yet despite these efforts, the volume of child pornography, particularly on the internet, is increasing. The law has reacted to this situation by adapting its definitions, increasing sentences and providing new powers to law enforcement. It is, however, unclear how far the law should extend. What should the relationship be between criminalization and free-speech? Is there a link between the "use" of child pornography and contact offending? The issue of child pornography has been the subject of considerable literature in the areas of psychology, sociology and psychiatry. These studies provide the basis for a greater understanding of the nature of child pornography, as well as the profiles and behaviour of those who access or produce such material. Child Pornography: Law and Policy brings this wider literature to bear on the legal and policy frameworks relating to child pornography, questioning both the appropriateness and the effectiveness of the law in this context.

388 pages, Hardcover

First published June 16, 2011

Reviews

[Birdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent legal analysis concerning CP. Dr. Gillespie goes over the details of CP law in England and Whales (as well as other Western countries such as the US). Gillespie does an especially amazing job outlining the different controversies in CP law and policy. The reader is able to clearly follow the differing opinions, positions, and concerns surrounding CP law from multiple perspectives (moral, practical, legal, and human rights). Some readers may find the book repetitive or dense, but Gillespie does his best to balance his deep-dives into case-law and legal statutes with structure and clarity. If you have ever wondered about CP law, why the legal age of childhood is 18 years old, what qualifies as obscene, how technology has impacted CP cases then this book is for you.