Delaware News

Attorney General Biden Takes Another Step in the Fight Against Child Predators

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Thursday, May 29, 2008



Wilmington, DE – In order to give prosecutors the power to put child predators away for longer
periods of time, Attorney General Beau Biden announced that the Delaware Department of Justice
has drafted legislation to strengthen penalties for sexual offenses against children. The legislation,
introduced as House Bill 421 by Representative Pete Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth), increases the
penalties against those convicted of unlawful sexual contact and those found guilty of the
distribution of child pornography. The Bill also takes into account the new ways pornographers use
technology to victimize children by broadening the scope of the law to include all modes of dealing
in illegal images, electronic or otherwise.
“Those who make sexual contact with children are predators – that’s clear,” Attorney General Biden
stated, “but possessors of child pornography are also predators. Children are victimized not only
when pornographic pictures of them are taken, but every time those pictures are viewed. That’s
why we’re calling for tougher penalties for criminals who victimize children in any way.”
House Bill 42l recognizes the severity of child sexual abuse by:
• Increasing the penalties for unlawful sexual contact with children
• Toughening the penalties for possessing and distributing child pornography
• Establishing a mandatory prison sentence for distributing child pornography
• Broadening the law to account for all forms of child pornography, including the use of new
electronic devices, such as camera phones and iPods
“I am proud to stand with Representative Pete Schwartzkopf in securing the most powerful tools for
law enforcement in the fight to keep kids safe,” Attorney General Biden stated. “We can never
cease to be vigilant when it comes to protecting children from predators.”
# # #

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Attorney General Biden Takes Another Step in the Fight Against Child Predators

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Thursday, May 29, 2008



Wilmington, DE – In order to give prosecutors the power to put child predators away for longer
periods of time, Attorney General Beau Biden announced that the Delaware Department of Justice
has drafted legislation to strengthen penalties for sexual offenses against children. The legislation,
introduced as House Bill 421 by Representative Pete Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth), increases the
penalties against those convicted of unlawful sexual contact and those found guilty of the
distribution of child pornography. The Bill also takes into account the new ways pornographers use
technology to victimize children by broadening the scope of the law to include all modes of dealing
in illegal images, electronic or otherwise.
“Those who make sexual contact with children are predators – that’s clear,” Attorney General Biden
stated, “but possessors of child pornography are also predators. Children are victimized not only
when pornographic pictures of them are taken, but every time those pictures are viewed. That’s
why we’re calling for tougher penalties for criminals who victimize children in any way.”
House Bill 42l recognizes the severity of child sexual abuse by:
• Increasing the penalties for unlawful sexual contact with children
• Toughening the penalties for possessing and distributing child pornography
• Establishing a mandatory prison sentence for distributing child pornography
• Broadening the law to account for all forms of child pornography, including the use of new
electronic devices, such as camera phones and iPods
“I am proud to stand with Representative Pete Schwartzkopf in securing the most powerful tools for
law enforcement in the fight to keep kids safe,” Attorney General Biden stated. “We can never
cease to be vigilant when it comes to protecting children from predators.”
# # #

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.