PROTECT Act
The PROTECT Act of 2003 ( P rosecutorial R emedies and O ther T ools to end the E xploitation of C hildren T oday Act of 2003 ) (108-21) is federal law aimed at combating child abduction and child abuse in the United States . The draft was introduced on January 13, 2003 by Senator Orrin Hatch ( R - UT ). The law was ratified by the House and Senate on April 10, 2003 and enacted by President George W. Bush on April 30, 2003 .
The PROTECT Act contains the following points:
- Life sentences in cases of abuse of minors if the perpetrator has previously been convicted of abuse of minors (with a few exceptions).
- Establishment of a program which enables voluntary organizations to obtain information on the criminal past of people
- Legalization of wiretapping and surveillance measures in all child abuse and child abduction related cases
- Abolition of maximum penalties for child abduction and child abuse
- no release of child abuse accused in the run-up to court proceedings
- Appointment of a national "AMBER Alert" coordinator
- Prohibition of computer generated child pornography
- Prohibition of drawings, sculptures or pictures showing children engaged in sexual acts
- Minimum sentences of 5 years for possession and 10 years for distributing child pornography
- Introduction of criminal liability for child abuse abroad by US citizens or persons living in the US (fines and sentences of up to 30 years)
See also
Web links
- Legal text (English; PDF; 199 kB)