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Citizen's Guide to United States
Federal Exploitation and Obscenity Laws
Overview
The Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Department of
Justice prosecutes individuals who violate federal law by sexually
exploiting children and enforces the federal obscenity laws. CEOS works in
conjunction with the 93 United States Attorney Offices around the country
to prosecute individuals who commit crimes in violation of federal statutes
that encompass the sexual exploitation of children though the possession,
receipt, distribution or manufacture of child pornography, the sexual abuse
of children, and the trafficking of children for sexual activity.
Additionally, with the assistance of its new High Tech Investigative Unit,
CEOS places significant focus on crimes involving the use of the Internet
to facilitate the sexual abuse of children or the trafficking of child
pornography. When committed on federal or Indian lands, other forms of
child sexual abuse also fall within the jurisdiction of CEOS and other
federal prosecutors. In addition, CEOS implements the international
parental kidnapping law. A very narrow category of child support cases also
falls within federal jurisdiction. Finally, CEOS is also responsible for
prosecutions under the federal obscenity laws, which criminalize the
distribution of obscenity and the transfer of obscene material to minors. See
18 U.S.C. § 1470.
U.S. Department of Justice,
Criminal Division ° Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS)
1400 New York Avenue,
6th Floor ° Washington,
D.C. 20530
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