South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has expressed his support for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee’s decision to advance S.723, a bill aimed at increasing penalties for child exploitation offenses. The proposed legislation will now move forward to the full Senate Judiciary Committee.
Wilson stated, “Protecting minors is not political; it is a moral obligation. It’s time to put our state’s children first. We’re asking for these mandatory minimums because they highlight the importance and gravity of these crimes. As a father and as Attorney General, I understand that there is no greater calling than protecting children. Our office will continue to work alongside law enforcement and prosecutors to hold offenders accountable.”
If passed, S.723 would increase mandatory minimum sentences for those who create or distribute Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). It would also introduce new tiered sentencing guidelines based on the quantity of CSAM in possession, imposing longer sentences for those with more images or videos. Additionally, registered sex offenders convicted of possessing CSAM would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.
The South Carolina Attorney General’s office plays a central role in supporting victims of crime through advocacy and resources, contributing to community safety across the state (official website). The office also acts as the primary legal advocate and enforcer for South Carolina by handling prosecutions and regulatory matters (official website). Alan Wilson leads this office (official website), which collaborates closely with state law enforcement agencies and solicitors on criminal cases (official website).
The Attorney General’s jurisdiction covers the entire state (official website) and includes enforcing laws related to securities and consumer protection (official website).
A recording of Attorney General Wilson’s testimony regarding S.723 is available online.
