By PSA Newsroom Staff
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is pushing lawmakers to increase mandatory minimum prison sentences for crimes involving child sexual abuse material, saying the state must respond more forcefully to a growing online threat.
Wilson argues that current penalties, including a three-year mandatory minimum for first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, are too lenient given the severity of the harm.
“These are real children,” he has said publicly. “Every image represents abuse.”
His proposal would significantly raise minimum prison terms for the most serious offenses and create stricter sentencing requirements for possession and distribution cases, particularly when younger victims or large volumes of material are involved.
The push comes as law enforcement agencies across South Carolina continue to report arrests tied to digital platforms and file-sharing networks. Investigators say technology has made exploitation easier to distribute and harder to trace, increasing the workload for specialized units.
Wilson has also supported recent laws targeting AI-generated child abuse images and expanding investigative tools for prosecutors. Supporters say stronger mandatory minimums would ensure consistency in sentencing and send a clear message of deterrence.
Critics of mandatory minimum laws caution that such policies can limit judges’ discretion and contribute to prison overcrowding. Still, child advocacy groups stress that exploitation leaves lasting trauma, even when abuse occurs online.
As the legislative session unfolds, lawmakers will weigh whether tougher sentencing laws are the right path forward, a debate that ultimately centers on how best to protect South Carolina’s children.
