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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Jennifer L. Mann |
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Governor signs Mann bill criminalizing the viewing of child pornography
HARRISBURG, July 14 - State Rep. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh, said legislation she authored that would make intentionally viewing child pornography a criminal offense was signed into law by the governor today.
Mann said Act 15 of 2009 (H.B. 89) ensures that people who deliberately exploit children by viewing these images can now be prosecuted, closing a loophole in former state law that said charges could be brought only if it could be proved that someone was in "possession or control" of the images.
"We need to protect children from the monsters who commit child abuse every time they view pornographic images depicting children. The change in the law will be an important tool to help law enforcement convict these people who prey on the innocent," Mann said.
Mann added that although the state Supreme Court recently ruled that viewing child pornography is a crime and the ruling will apply in future decisions dealing with similar legal disputes, it was important to get the measure formally enacted into state law to prevent future cases from being overturned on appeal.
"The people who intentionally view child pornography are committing a criminal offense, plain and simple," Mann said. "We have an obligation to make sure children can grow up safe and happy rather than being exploited by these sexual predators."
Act 15 applies to various mediums, including the Internet, video and photographic images.
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