South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has commended the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee for moving S.723 forward to the full Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill is designed to increase penalties for crimes involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
In a statement, Wilson said, “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 raise mandatory minimum sentences for creating and distributing CSAM, introduce tiered sentencing based on the quantity of material possessed, and set a five-year minimum sentence for registered sex offenders found guilty of possessing CSAM.
The South Carolina Attorney General’s office plays a central role in supporting victims of crime through advocacy efforts and resources aimed at community safety, according to its official website. The office also acts as the state’s main legal advocate and enforcer by handling prosecutions and regulatory matters such as securities and consumer protection issues (source). Alan Wilson has served as head of this statewide agency (source), which works with law enforcement agencies and solicitors across South Carolina on criminal cases (source).
A video of Attorney General Wilson’s testimony regarding S.723 is available online.
