Child Pornography/ Obscenity Convictions for December 2006
The latest available data from the Justice Department show that during December 2006 the government reported 101 new child pornography/ obscenity convictions. According to the case-by-case information analyzed by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), this number is down 9.8% over the previous month.
The comparisons of the number of defendants convicted for child pornography/ obscenity-related offenses are based on case-by-case information obtained by TRAC under the Freedom of Information Act from the Executive Office for United States Attorneys. (See Table 1)
When monthly 2006 convictions are compared with those of the same period in the previous year, the numbers were up (10 percent). Convictions over the past year are still much higher than they were five years ago. Overall, the data show that the convictions are up 149.6 percent from levels reported in 2001.
The increase from the levels five years ago in child pornography/ obscenity convictions is shown more clearly in Figure 1. The vertical bars in Figure 1 represent the number of child pornography/ obscenity convictions recorded on a month-to-month basis. The superimposed line on the bars plots the six-month moving average so that natural fluctuations are smoothed out. The one and five-year rates of change in Table 1 and in the sections that follow are all based upon this six-month moving average.
Within the broad category of child pornography/ obscenity, cases were classified by prosecutors into more specific types.
Case types within child pornography/ obscenity are
Pornography-Child
Obscenity
The largest number of convictions in December 2006 was for "Pornography-Child", accounting for 99 percent of convictions. Convictions were also filed for "Obscenity" (1%). See Figure 2.
The lead investigative agency for child pornography/ obscenity convictions in December 2006 was FBI accounting for 53 percent of convictions. Other agencies with substantial numbers of child pornography/ obscenity convictions were: DHS (25% ), Postal Service (11%), Local (5%). See Figure 3.
Lead Charge in Child Pornography/ Obscenity Convictions
US Magistrate Courts
In December 2006, no child pornography/ obscenity cases took place in U.S. Magistrate Courts which handle less serious misdemeanor cases, including what are called "petty offenses."
US District Courts
Table 2 shows the top lead charges recorded in the convictions of child pornography/ obscenity matters filed in U.S. District Court during December 2006.
Lead Charge Count Rank 18 USC 2252 - Material involving sexual exploitation of minors 66 1 Details 18 USC 2251 - Sexual exploitation of children 9 2 Details 18 USC 2252A - Activities relating to child pornography 9 2 Details 18 USC 2422 - Transport for sex - Coercion and enticement 8 4 Details 18 USC 2423 - Transportation of minors for sexual activity 4 5 Details 18 USC 225 - Continuing financial crimes enterprise 3 6 Details 18 USC 2256 - Sexual exploitation/other abuse of children 1 7 Details 18 USC 2257 - Child sexual exploit/abuse -Record keeping require 1 7 Details
Table 2: Top charges filed for convictions
"Material involving sexual exploitation of minors" (18 U.S.C Section 2252) was the most frequent recorded lead charge.
Ranked 2nd in frequency was the lead charge "Sexual exploitation of children" under Title 18 U.S.C Section 2251.
Ranked 3rd was "Activities relating to child pornography" under Title 18 U.S.C Section 2252.
Judicial District Count Rank Ga, N 6 1 Details Ken, E 5 2 Details Utah 5 2 Details Iowa, S 4 4 Details Ala, N 3 5 Details Cal, C 3 5 Details Kansas 3 5 Details Tenn, W 3 5 Details Virg, E 3 5 Details Cal, S 2 10 Details Fla, S 2 10 Details Ga, M 2 10 Details Maine 2 10 Details Mass 2 10 Details Minnesota 2 10 Details Mo, E 2 10 Details Mo, W 2 10 Details Montana 2 10 Details N. J. 2 10 Details N. Y., E 2 10 Details N. Y., W 2 10 Details Nevada 2 10 Details Oregon 2 10 Details Penn, W 2 10 Details S Car 2 10 Details Tenn, E 2 10 Details Texas, E 2 10 Details Texas, N 2 10 Details Texas, S 2 10 Details Wash, E 2 10 Details
Table 3: Top districts for convictions
Child Pornography/ Obscenity Convictions by Judicial District
In December 2006 the Justice Department said the government obtained 41.3 child pornography/ obscenity convictions for every ten million people in the United States.
Understandably, there is great variation in the number of child pornography/ obscenity convictions in each of the nation's ninety-four federal judicial districts.
The districts registering the largest number of convictions last month are shown in Table 3.
Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta)—with 6 convictions—was the most active during December 2006.
Eastern District of Kentucky (Lexington) ranked 2nd.
Utah is now ranking 2nd as well.
Top Ranked District Judges
At any one time, there are about 680 federal District Court judges working in the United States. For the entire nation, the judges recorded with the largest number of new child pornography/ obscenity crime cases resulting in convictions during December 2006 are shown in Table 4.
Judge Count Rank Forester, Karl Spillman Ken, E 3 1 Details Carney, Cormac J. Cal, C 2 2 Details Land, Clay D. Ga, M 2 2 Details Pratt, Robert W. Iowa, S 2 2 Details Hood, Joseph Martin Ken, E 2 2 Details Woodcock, John A. Jr. Maine 2 2 Details Wright, Scott Olin Mo, W 2 2 Details Larimer, David G. N. Y., W 2 2 Details King, Garr M. Oregon 2 2 Details Donald, Bernice B. Tenn, W 2 2 Details Greene, John Thomas Jr. Utah 2 2 Details Cassell, Paul G. Utah 2 2 Details Lee, Gerald Bruce Virg, E 2 2 Details Shea, Edward F. Wash, E 2 2 Details
Table 4: Top judges for convictions
Judge Karl Spillman Forester in the Eastern District of Kentucky (Lexington) ranked 1st with 3 convicted in child pornography/ obscenity convictions.
Judge Cormac J. Carney in the Central District of California (Los Angeles) ranked 2nd with 2 convicted in child pornography/ obscenity convictions.
Judge Clay D. Land in Middle District of Georgia (Macon) ranked 2nd as well with 2 new child pornography/ obscenity convictions.
