Nation's 'Toughest Child Pornography Bill' Hits Gov. Christie's Desk

A bipartisan bill that would significantly increase jail time for those convicted on child porngoraphy charges has reached the desk of Gov. Chris Christie for final passage.

S2493 – sponsored by Republican Sen. Kevin O'Toole along with Democratic senators Steve Sweeney and George Nocross – upgrades child porngraphy charges from second degree crimes to first degree crimes; broadens coverage of victims to now include children younger than 18; and requires that anyone convicted of distributing child pornography serve at least 85 percent of their sentence.

Gov. Chris Christie is expected to sign the bill – hailed as the toughest child pornography legislation in the country – into law.

“This is the most significant bill passed by the New Jersey legislature in decades, and it accomplishes what the people put us here to do first and foremost: everything possible to protect children and families,” O'Toole, the prime sponsor, said in a statement. “This empowers law enforcement, prosecutors and judges to keep predators away from our children. This act is a national model that will kill that disgraceful industry in New Jersey.”

Among the notable provisions to the bill are: 

• Child pornography possession charges will be upgraded from fourth degree crimes to third degree crimes
• Anyone convicted of distributing 25 or more images will face a mandatory prison sentence
• Peer-to-peer file sharing of the images will become criminal offenses
• Offenders would become parolees for life; they will be required to disclose online usernames and passwords to law enforcement
• No child pornography convictions can be expunged from records
• Repeat offenders will serve extended prison terms

Eighty-five percent of men arrested for possession and/or distribution of child pornography "have also committed a hands-on offense against a child, and offenders usually have ties to their victims, as parents, guardians, relatives or friends," the senators said in a statement.

"These kinds of crimes, which are committed against children, are the most horrific in society. We have to ensure that our state laws provide law enforcement with the tools necessary to prosecute the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes against minors and to bring them to justice," Norcross (D-Camden, Gloucester) said. "By updating our laws to bring them in line with federal statute, we will enhance our ability to hold these individuals accountable and improve protections for children."