The District Court is finally starting to reflect the punishments that society demands for child sex offences. The story in the Courier Mail shows that Judges are trying to send out the message that child porn is not a victimless crime and they should be commended for that.
Read the story at this link-
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/jail-only-option-for-man-guilty-of-possessing-child-porn-judge-rules/story-e6freoof-1226138823626
The story mentions the sentence handed down and without knowing the facts presented and possible appeals I will not comment I will let others make up their mind if they think it is adequate.
The issue to be discussed is this thinking that viewing shild porn is somehow not as bad as committing the crime or that there is no victim. Having worked in a role dealing with child sex offenders and those viewing child porn I have heard first hand how they try and justify or mitigate their actions as 'not that bad'. They are just as bad as the person committing the offence.If we send a mixed message about what is acceptable in society, we set people up to fail.
I say that people in possession of child porn are helping facilitate child sex offences. if there was no market, people wouldn't be selling the images.To make it clear that possessing child porn is just as bad as committing the offence, they should be charged as a 'party to the offence' depicted in the photo/image and penalties reflect same.
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