News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Bill Increases Penalties for Child Sex Offenders

Legislature Votes to Lock ’em up Longer

For Immediate Release: May 9, 1998 Contact: Senator Drue Pearce at (907) 465-4993.

Juneau – On Saturday, the House upheld the Majority’s commitment to keep Alaska’s children safe by passing Senate Bill 323 -- legislation to protect Alaska’s children against people who exploit them by distributing and possessing sexually explicit materials. Senate Bill 323 will increase the penalties for offenses of possession and distribution of child pornography and the offense of indecent exposure in in the presence of a minor.

According to bill sponsor Senator Drue Pearce (R-Anchorage), child pornography is a permanent recording of sexual abuse of a minor. "Stronger laws to protect children against sex offenders are long overdue," said Pearce.

Currently, distribution of child pornography is a class C felony while possession of child pornography is only a class A misdemeanor. Offenders convicted of class A misdemeanors do not receive sentences of more than one year. "Alaska law falls short of protecting children in light of new technologies available to anyone with a computer. One year is simply not enough of a deterrent for these crimes, especially when investigations are turning up thousands of child pornography photos," said Pearce.

Pearce noted that sexual abuse related crimes against children involve, or at least begin with simple possession of child pornographic material. For this reason, SB 323 increases the crime of child porn possession to a class C felony and distribution to a B felony. SB 323 also creates the offense of indecent exposure in the first degree if the offender knowingly masturbates within the observation of a person under 16 years of age, making it a class C felony offense.

"By making each of these offenses class C felonies, child sex offenders could serve up to five years – hopefully enough time to make them think twice before committing these crimes against Alaska’s youngest victims."

SB 323 will require offenders for possession of child pornography and indecent exposure in the first degree to register as sex offenders. It will also require sex offender registration for the offenders of indecent exposure in the second degree before a person under the age of 16 for the second offense. Currently, only someone convicted for distribution of child pornography is required to register.

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