ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 8, 1995                   TAG: 9504100030
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

SENATE OKS TOUGHER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY BILL

The Senate unanimously approved legislation Thursday night that increases prison terms for child pornography and child prostitution, and use of computers to transmit such pornographic material.

The House passed a similar measure by a 417-0 vote earlier this week. Differences between the two versions will have to be resolved when Congress returns from its spring break next month before the bill can be sent to President Clinton.

The legislation would direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to change its sentencing guidelines for sex crimes involving a minor. The commission is an independent body within the judicial branch that develops guidelines for federal judges.

The measure also specifically increases penalties if a computer is used to transmit pornographic pictures or to advertise pornographic material involving a minor.

Under the new guidelines, the sentence for a first-time offender convicted of creating child pornography would increase from a range of 57-71 months to 70-87 months.

- Associated Press 


 by CNB