This Manual is designed as an educational tool to aid law enforcement in understanding and successfully investigating and prosecuting crimes involving child pornography and child sexual exploitation. It is anticipated that primarily investigators and prosecutors of cases involving child pornography or child sexual exploitation will use the material presented herein. The emphasis in this Manual has been placed on the questions of law involved in such cases and focuses on the most common fundamental and generic issues involving Constitutional, statutory, and case law arising in connection with such investigations and prosecutions. It is meant to have practical application in contemporary American legal practice, and does not constitute a comprehensive treatment of the psychological, sociological, historical, political, or international law issues involved.

This Manual has been prepared for educational and information purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice or legal opinion on any specific matter. Dissemination or transmission of the information contained herein is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship between the National Law Center for Children and Families® (NLC) its board, employees or agents and the Reader. The Reader should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. No person should act or fail to act on any legal matter based on the contents of this Manual. Any views expressed in this Manual are those of the contributing authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor, employees, staff, officers or board of directors of NLC.