Connecticut Child Pornography Laws

It's illegal to produce, possess, distribute, or sell child pornography in this country. Connecticut law defines child pornography (Child Sexual Abuse Material or CSAM) as a visual depiction of a child engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

If you're facing child pornography charges, you should learn about Connecticut's child porn laws. You should also consult an experienced Connecticut criminal defense attorney. If the judge finds you guilty of these criminal charges, you'll face jail time, fines, and mandatory sex offender registration.

Definition of Child Pornography Under Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut law is clear on what qualifies as CSAM. The pornographic material can be of any medium, including:

• Photographs
• Videotapes
• Films
• Computer-generated images
• Texts (sexting)

The material must contain minors engaged in "sexually explicit conduct." This includes:

• Actual or simulated sexual intercourse
• Bestiality
• Masturbation
• Sadistic or masochistic abuse
• Lewd and lascivious exhibition of the genitals, breasts, or pubic area

You can be guilty of possession of CSAM whether you have physical materials or are caught downloading images of child pornography on your laptop, cell phone, or other electronic device.

Connecticut Child Porn Laws at a Glance

The following chart highlights Connecticut's main child pornography law.

Disclaimer: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state laws you are researching.

Affirmative Defenses

An affirmative defense is a defense that doesn't deny the allegations against the defendant but gives some other reason the defendant isn't liable. Under Connecticut's child pornography possession laws, there are two affirmative defenses available:

It is an affirmative defense to an allegation of child pornography possession if:

• The defendant possessed less than three visual depictions of child pornography
• The defendant didn't knowingly purchase, procure, solicit, or request the child pornography and
• The defendant promptly and in good faith took reasonable steps to destroy each copy of the child pornography or reported the matter to law enforcement

You can prove that you possessed or created the material for bona fide artistic, medical, scientific, educational, religious, governmental, or judicial purposes.

Importing Child Pornography

It is illegal to intentionally promote child pornography by knowingly importing at least three pieces of child porn into the state of Connecticut. This crime is a Class B felony, and the judge will sentence you to at least five years in prison.

To convict a defendant of importing CSAM, the state must prove that the defendant was aware of the content and character of the pornography.

A Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help

State laws change frequently. For case-specific information about Connecticut's child pornography laws, contact a local criminal defense attorney. Whether you're in New Haven, Hartford, or Fairfield, you need representation.