Learn about your state's laws by using the links below.
By Christie Nicholson, J.D. | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff | Last reviewed April 28, 2025
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Child pornography is one of the most serious offenses in criminal law. While state and federal laws differ in their treatment of child porn, they both impose strict penalties for sex crimes, including child pornography.
Not only are there severe penalties for these criminal offenses, but most jurisdictions require people guilty of these crimes to register as a sex offender. This not only affects your criminal record, but it can also damage your reputation and standing in the community.
Whether you're facing charges for possession of child pornography (Child Sexual Abuse Material — CSAM) or distribution of child porn materials, you should get to know your state laws. You should also consult a skilled criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible after your arrest.
This article will offer links to FindLaw articles describing each state's CSAM laws. We will also offer links to helpful FindLaw resources on this and related topics.
When most people think of CSAM, they envision someone downloading illicit content on their laptop, phone, or electronic device. But there are different types of child pornography charges. Each carries severe penalties, including fines, a prison sentence, and sex offender registration.
Most child pornography offenses involve the possession, creation, or distribution of sexually explicit conduct featuring children. Regardless of the legal age of consent in your state, any depiction of someone under 18 years of age in a sexually explicit manner qualifies as pornographic material.
It's also important to remember that not all child pornography cases involve children engaging in sexual intercourse. It can be a simple visual depiction of a child without their clothes on. State and federal child pornography laws provide precise legal definitions of sexual exploitation of children.
Some of the more common CSAM crimes in the U.S. include:
These crimes tend to fall under the umbrella of sexual abuse of children. Select your state from the list below to learn your jurisdiction's specific laws and penalties.
The penalties for child pornography crimes depend on the state you live in and the specific facts of your case. It also depends on whether you have prior convictions for child pornography.
Regardless of the actual criminal charges, a conviction of a CSAM crime will depend on your state's sentencing guidelines. For many of these crimes, lawmakers impose mandatory minimum sentences. The more serious the offense, the harsher the punishment.
Choose a state from the list below for state-specific definitions and statutes on child porn, including in-depth overviews of the states' child pornography offenses, penalties, and more.
All federal child porn laws fall under Title 18 U.S.C. §2257, et. seq. If the government has charged you with a federal crime involving CSAM, the federal courts will handle your case, and you will face time in federal prison.
If the state has charged you with the production of child pornography or possession of such material, you should consult a local criminal defense lawyer. The penalties for these crimes are severe, and it's best to have a legal professional on your side.