The Arkansas state legislature passed a bill that changed the term “child pornography” in the state code to have a more serious and accurate description of the crime. Lawmakers shared the change will potentially have an impact on sentencing.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is set to sign the bill into law replacing the term with “child sexual abuse material” in the state’s code, according to a press release, KNWA reported.
The release from Sanders’ office shared that the name change comes as the term “child pornography” does not accurately describe the acts and severity of the crimes.
The bill was sponsored by state Rep. Charlene Fite, who shared before it was passed that using the term would “put the emphasis on the crime committed against the child. A child cannot consent.”
Fite said that the difference in terminology could have an impact on the legal system when it comes to sentencing criminals for the act.
“When we convict people who do this, we want the emphasis to be on the child, not the term pornography,” Fite said. “I’m hoping this will make prosecution of those who commit these heinous crimes easier.”
The idea for the bill came from a meeting with the Morgan Nick Foundation, which works with victims of sexual exploitation, WREG reported. The CEO of the foundation, Colleen Nick, is an advocate for families with missing children and those who have been victims of crime.
Fite met with Nick and the foundation, sharing that she was inspired to write the legislation afterwards. Nick has shared that the bill is the right move for the state.
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