Child pornography sentences may be unfair. That’s the conclusion of
a study by the U.S. Sentencing Commission. On Wednesday, the commission
asked Congress to amend the law to better sentence people for crimes they
are found guilty of committing, relating to child pornography.

The commission found that sentences that were handed down in 2004 were
within the sentencing guidelines 84 percent of the time. Just seven years
later, in 2011, the sentences were only within the guidelines half of
the time. That means people might be getting more severe sentences than
what are in the guidelines. While these are guidelines, they are meant
to help judges make sure sentencing is fair based on the crime a person
committed. If more judges disregard guidelines, sentences could grow harsher
each year.

If a person is arrested for child pornography charges, they might be wise
to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney in New Jersey.
While it is important to be sensitive to the difficult subject of the
charges, it is also important that people who are arrested are able to
receive a fair trial and are sentenced in a fair manner if they are convicted.

Sex crime charges are especially serious. A conviction of a sex crime could
result in a person being unemployable in many fields, and might even require
them to register as a sex offender in New Jersey. It can also lead to
extended supervision by law enforcement. A criminal defense attorney can
help make sure a person’s rights and privacy are respected throughout
the legal process.

Source: The Washington Post, “Study: Sentencing in child porn cases uneven,” Pete Yost, Feb. 28, 2013

-Our law firm handles child pornography charges in New Jersey. Please visit
our criminal defense website to learn more.