Dillard Legislation Increases Penalties for Moving Child Pornography

May 18—Senate lawmakers overwhelmingly advanced legislation sponsored by State Sen. Kirk Dillard to increase the penalties for individuals found in possession of, or who have created, films, videotapes or moving images of child pornography.

“It’s generally accepted that moving pictures are more provoking than still images. If stimulated, sexual predators may be more likely to act on their urges. Because the implications of moving pornographic images are more damaging to children and society, experts believe possession of those types of images should be penalized at a greater level,” Dillard explained.

If signed into law, House Bill 3283 would establish that filming, videotaping or creating a moving image of child pornography, or possessing these materials, is a felony one class higher than photographing or owning photos of child pornography.

Currently, there is no distinction between moving pictures and a still photograph in Illinois’ child pornography law, though the law does differentiate between actually filming or producing child pornography, versus possessing child pornography.