美国法律多如牛毛,有的法律是非常的obscure,比如在广告里使用瑞士的coat of arms是犯罪,还有很多法律的语言包括的很广,要是符合法律字面定义就全都抓起来的话,街上就剩不下几个人了。因此没有prosecutorial discretion,美国的法律系统就会崩溃掉。比如最近闹得挺大的一个案子,Ohio的一个17岁的中学生和他的女朋友之间相互发自己的裸体照片。当地检察官按照法律的条文,起诉他们犯了制作传播儿童色情材料的罪。如果单纯由法律条文来判断,这个检察官的做法没有问题,但是几乎所有的评论都是谴责检察官这么做。
你文中所说Ohio的案例,如果只是两人之间互发,符合“传播”的定义么?
如果套下面这条的话
18 U.S.C. § 2252- Certain activities relating to material involving the sexual exploitation of minors
(Possession, distribution and receipt of child pornography)
(1) Photograph any minor who is not the person's child or ward in a state of nudity, or create, direct, produce, or transfer any material or performance that shows the minor in a state of nudity,
. . .
(3) Possess or view any material or performance that shows a minor who is not the person's child or ward in a state of nudity
The status of an alien. . . may be adjusted by the Attorney General, in his discretion and under such regulations as he may prescribe, to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. . .