Print and sign the Petition to Increase the Penalty for Posession of Child Pornography from misdemeanor to felony.
Or, write a letter to your state representative using our suggested form letter to find out how they stand on the issue. If you are represented by a delegate who is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, we particularly urge you to use the suggested form letter to ask him or her to let you know how he or she stands in this issue.

Legislation MCAP is monitoring:

Prince George’s County Council  

None Currently

In the Maryland General Assembly: 2008 Report

The session ended without passage of our bill. The Maryland General Assembly's failure to act on a child pornography bill is deplorable, especially with the recent high profile child pornography prosecutions of individuals associated with the Naval Academy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the Maryland Assembly itself.

MCAP supports legislation to increase the penalty for possessing child porn to a felony; Maryland is one of just four states where posessing child pornography s just a misdemeanor currently. HB 436 passed the Maryland House of Delegates 136-0 in February, but the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee would not even bring it before the committee for a vote. We encourage you to ask the Chairman of the committee, Sen. Brian Frosh (D), blocked any vote on this. Our Children Deserve Better.

SENATE BILL 75: No hearing scheduled, as of yet.

Entitled: Criminal Law - Possession of Child Pornography - Enhanced Penalties

Sponsored by: Senators Stone (D), Della (D), and Jacobs (R) (note that we are encouraged to have bipartisan support)

Synopsis: Increasing the age of an individual, a specified depiction of whom in a film, videotape, photograph, or other visual representation may not be knowingly possessed by another; increasing the penalties for possessing a film, videotape, photograph, or other visual representation depicting a minor engaged in specified activity or in a specified state; making the possession of child pornography a felony; creating a mandatory minimum penalty for possession of child pornography; etc.

HOUSE BILL 60: Unfavorable Review from Judiciary Committee, Crossfiled with: SENATE BILL 6

Entitled: Criminal Procedure-Offender Registry-Possession of Child Pornography

Sponsored by: Delegate Stifler (R)

Synopsis: Altering the definition of "offender" for inclusion on a specified offender registry to include a specified person convicted of possession of child pornography.

HOUSE BILL 436: Approved by House, 136-0. Crossfiled with: SENATE BILL 414. Senate Wed., 5 March 2008.

Entitled: Criminal Law - Possession of Child Pornography - Penalties

Sponsored by: Delegates McComas and Waldstreicher

Synopsis: Changing the offense of possession of child pornography from a misdemeanor to a felony.

HOUSE BILL 574: Unfavorable Review from Judiciary Committee, Crossfiled with: SENATE BILL 75

Entitled: Criminal Law - Possession of Child Pornography - Enhanced Penalties

Sponsored by: Delegates McComas, DeBoy, Eckardt, Elliott, Frank, George, Haddaway, James, Kipke, Krebs, Levy, McConkey, Miller, Myers, Norman, O'Donnell, Schuh, Shank, Shewell, Sophocleus, Stocksdale, and Wood.

Synopsis: Increasing the age of an individual, a specified depiction of whom in a film, videotape, photograph, or other visual representation may not be knowingly possessed by another; increasing the penalties for possessing a film, videotape, photograph, or other visual representation depicting a minor engaged in specified activity or in a specified state; making the possession of child pornography a felony; creating a mandatory minimum penalty for possession of child pornography; etc.

HR 4136: Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

Entitled: Enhancing the Effective Prosecution of Child Pornography Act of 2007

Sponsored by: Rep. Christopher P. Carney

Synopsis: Defining "posessing" child pornography as including "accessing by computer with the intent to view."

H.R. 876

Entitled: SAFE Act of 2007

Sponsored by: Chabot

Synopsis: To modernize and expand the reporting requirements relating to child pornography, to expand cooperation in combating child pornography, and for other purposes.