La rete Internet ha conquistato sempre maggiore spazio negli ultimi anni agli occhi dei giuristi, oltre che come origine di fattispecie di rilevanza penale, anche come utile strumento di approfondimento delle ricerche comparatistiche fra sistemi giuridici. Può quindi risultare utile fornire un esempio della modalità di conduzione di una ricerca per temi in un insieme di banche dati. Dal momento che la diffusione su scala mondiale della Rete ha comportato un incremento nella incidenza dei reati di diffusione di materiale a sfondo sessuale che ha come vittime, ma spesso anche come fruitori, dei minori, la ricerca verrà condotta proprio su queste fattispecie, ed in particolare su come esse vengono sanzionate all’interno dei codici penali degli Stati Uniti.

Nonostante appartengano alla tradizione giuridica di Common Law, infatti, molti degli Stati nordamericani si sono dotati di un codice di diritto penale. Queste raccolte di norme di Criminal Law, nella maggior parte dei casi vanno al di là della semplice consolidazione di leggi: sono quasi sempre composti da una parte generale, dedicata alla analisi dei principi che reggono il sistema, quali territorialità, colpevolezza, genere della pena, tentativo, concorso di persone, cause di giustificazione e così via, e da una parte speciale, a sua volta suddivisa in base al bene giuridico tutelato dalla fattispecie astratta; hanno carattere di esaustività; sono tesi alla ricerca della sistematicità.

La maggior parte degli Stati poi, mette questi codici a disposizione del pubblico, attraverso una edizione on line, consultabile gratuitamente attraverso il Web.

Al momento attuale, trentasei membri della federazione sono dotati di un sito Internet attraverso il quale documentarsi sulle norme penali. Questi Stati sono: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachussets, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin e Wyoming.

La analisi si è concentrata proprio su questi codici. Alcuni rilievi possono essere anteposti all’esame delle singole norme.

Innanzitutto, nella analisi delle diverse fattispecie non si può fare a meno i notare come fra i diversi testi esistano delle differenze sostanziali: alcuni codici, per esempio, non contemplano alcun reato specifico sul problema della child pornography, mentre altri legislatori hanno predisposto addirittura cinque fattispecie incriminatrici di comportamenti rivolti allo sfruttamento a fini sessuali dei minori.

In secondo luogo, la divulgazione sulla Rete delle norme di diritto penale nazionale, è affidata a sistemi del tutto diversi, per nulla integrati fra loro. Per analizzare la stessa tematica, si deve di volta in volta collegarsi alla "pagina" del singolo Stato, prendere familiarità con l'interfaccia grafica di gestione dei documenti e successivamente consultare la norma relativa al reato ricercato. Per fare un esempio, si passa dallo Stato che ha predisposto un sistema di ricerca per parola chiave, al codice on line che riporta solo il numero degli articoli, non corredato da alcuna rubrica, di modo che si deve consultare ogni documento in forma integrale per apprenderne il contenuto.

Superate le difficoltà iniziali, però, la facilità e la velocità di consultazione di questi archivi, fanno imporre la edizione Internet del testo su ogni tipo di pubblicazione su supporto cartaceo.

Rintracciato l’indirizzo ( sito Web http://www.touchngo.com:/lglcntr7akstats/Statutes/Title11.htm), attraverso la mediazione della pagina dei link della Buffalo University di New York (Indirizzo: http://www.buffalo.edu), ci si trova di fronte all’indice generale del codice stesso.

La sezione 11.41.455. dedicata allo "sfruttamento dei minori", prevede come felony l’induzione o l’impiego dei minori di diciotto anni nella produzione di riviste, filmati, fotografie o riproduzioni di qualsiasi altro genere, di condotte, reali o simulate, afferenti alla sfera sessuale. Le condotte indicate vengono poi di seguito specificate, con riferimento diretto a penetrazioni, palpeggiamenti, masturbazione, atti di impronta bestiale, di esibizione di parti intime del corpo o sadomasochistici da parte del minore. Il secondo comma della norma, individua poi come responsabili dello stesso di reato, genitori o persone legalmente preposte alla custodia o al controllo dei minori di diciotto anni, che permettano al soggetto loro affidato il compimento del genere di atti sopra elencati, pur essendo a conoscenza del fatto che questi comportamenti verranno utilizzati per la creazione del genere di produzioni citate.

La norma, nel testo integrale, è così composta:

La successiva sezione 47.17.023. è invece incentrata sulla criminalizzazione del comportamento di chi, per motivo della propria attività, si trovi a produrre o stampare alcunché e, pur avendo il sospetto che si tratti di materiale illegale per il coinvolgimento di minori, non ne denunci l’esistenza alle autorità:

"(a) A person is guilty of employing a minor in an obscene performance when (1) he employs any minor, whether or not such minor receives any consideration, for the purpose of promoting any material or performance which is obscene as to minors, notwithstanding that such material or performance is intended for an adult audience, or (2) he permits any such minor to be employed, whether or not such minor receives any consideration, in the promotion of any material or performance which is obscene as to minors, notwithstanding that such material or performance is intended for an adult audience, and he is the parent or guardian of such minor or otherwise responsible for the general supervision of such minor's welfare. (b) Employing a minor in an obscene performance is a class A felony".

Per quanto riguarda l’importazione di materiale pornografico, l’articolo del codice del Connecticut è interessante, per rappresenta un unicum all’interno di tutti i codici analizzati:

"(a) A person is guilty of importing child pornography when, with intent to promote child pornography, he knowingly imports or causes to be imported into the state any child pornography of known content and character. (b) Importation of two or more copies of any publication containing child pornography shall be prima facie evidence that such publications were imported with intent to promote child pornography. (c) Importing child pornography is a class C felony. (a) A person is guilty of possessing child pornography when he knowingly possesses child pornography, as defined in subdivision (13) of section 53a-193. Possession of a photographic or other visual reproduction of a nude minor for a bona fide artistic, medical, scientific, educational, religious, governmental or judicial purpose shall not be a violation of this subsection. (b) Possessing child pornography is a class D felony".

Il bene giuridico tutelato sembra essere l’integrità morale dei cittadini dello Stato, in quanto la fattispecie è collocata all’interno dei reati contro la moralità. Viene inoltre introdotta una presunzione di colpevolezza, allorquando si dice che "l’importazione di due o più copie di qualsiasi pubblicazione contenete pornografia minorile debba essere prima facie considerata prova che tale pubblicazione sia stata importata con l’intento di promuovere la pornografia minorile" (Sarebbe interessante sottoporre la questione ad una Corte di tradizione continentale: il numero di copie importate viene qui considerato indice oggettivo della volontà di delinquere, in maniera svincolata da ogni rilevamento del momento soggettivo dell’agente9).

La sezione 16-12-100 specifica poi che, non solo i genitori e i tutori dei minori, ma qualsiasi persona commette questo reato se convince, induce o obbliga un minore a compiere prestazioni a sfondo sessuale, le riproduce in qualsiasi modo, pubblicizza o conduce la vendita di questo materiale, se non per motivi medici, scientifici o educativi, o per esigenze di indagine di polizia:

Fonte: http://www.ganet.state.ga.us/services/ocode/ocgsearch.htm.

Le fattispecie sono due. Nella sezione 18-107A viene punito il possesso di materiale a sfondo sessuale per fini diversi da quello commerciale, per difendere l’identità dei minori coinvolti e per evitare contraccolpi psicologici per la vita futura delle vittime. Questi comportamenti vengono puniti con la reclusione per un periodo non superiore ai cinque anni e con una sanzione pecuniaria di importo massimo quantificato in $5.000:

"TITLE 18 CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS CHAPTER 15 CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS 18-1507A. POSSESSION OF SEXUALLY EXPLOITATIVE MATERIAL FOR OTHER THAN ACOMMERCIAL PURPOSE -- PENALTY.

(1) It is the policy of the legislature inenacting this section to protect children from the physical andpsychological damage caused by their being used in photographicrepresentations of sexual conduct which involves children. It is,therefore, the intent of the legislature to penalize possession ofphotographic representations of sexual conduct which involves children inorder to protect the identity of children who are victimized by involvementin the photographic representations, and to protect children from futureinvolvement in photographic representations of sexual conduct.

(2) Every person who knowingly and willfully has in his possession anysexually exploitative material as defined in section 18-1507, Idaho Code,for other than a commercial purpose, is guilty of a felony, and shall bepunished by imprisonment in the state prison for a period not to exceedfive (5) years and by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000)".

La sezione 18-105A lett. d), invece, punisce con la reclusione per un periodo non eccedente i quindici anni, il comportamento della persona, che se di età almeno di cinque anni superiore a quella di un ragazzo di sedici o diciassette anni, esegua una riproduzione fotografica o elettronica di attività di tipo sessuale compiute dal minore stesso:

"CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS 18-1508A. SEXUAL BATTERY OF A MINOR CHILD SIXTEEN OR SEVENTEEN YEARS OF AGE -- PENALTY.

(1) It is a felony for any person at least five (5) years of age older than a minor child who is sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age, who, with the intent of arousing, appealing to or gratifying the lust, passion, or sexual desires of such person, minor child, or third party, to: (a) Commit any lewd or lascivious act or acts upon or with the body or any part or any member thereof of such minor child including, but not limited to, genital-genital contact, oral-genital contact, anal-genital contact, oral-anal contact, manual-anal contact or manual-genital contact, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex, or who shall involve such minor child in any act of explicit sexual conduct as defined in section 18-1507, Idaho Code; or (b) Solicit such minor child to participate in a sexual act; or (c) Cause or have sexual contact with such minor child, not amounting to lewd conduct as defined in paragraph (a) of this subsection; or (d) Make any photographic or electronic recording of such minor child. (2) For the purpose of subsection (b) of this section, "solicit" means any written, verbal or physical act which is intended to communicate to such minor child the desire of the actor or third party to participate in a sexual act or participate in sexual foreplay, by the means of sexual contact, photographing or observing such minor child engaged in sexual contact. (3) For the purpose of this section, "sexual contact" means any physical contact between such minor child and any person or between such minor children which is caused by the actor, or the actor causing such minor child to have self contact. (4) Any person guilty of a violation of the provisions of subsection (1)(a) of this section shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a period not to exceed life. (5) Any person guilty of a violation of the provisions of subsections (1)(b), (1)(c), or (1)(d) of this section shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) years".

Al Capitolo 272, sezione 29/B si legge:

"Chiunque, con intento lascivo, diffonda qualsiasi materiale di tipo visivo che contenga una rappresentazione o riproduzione di ogni posa, statica o in movimento, in stato di nudità, di un ragazzo minore di anni diciotto, conoscendo il contenuto del materiale o essendo a conoscenza di fatti che ne dimostrino il contenuto, con l’intento di diffonderlo, deve essere punito con la reclusione in una prigione statale per un periodo non inferiore ai dieci e non superiore ai vent’anni o con una sanzione pecuniaria non inferiore a mille e non superiore a cinquantamila dollari o all’equivalente del triplo del danno economico deerivato dalla distribuzione, se maggiore, o da entrambe le somme". Nel caso in cui il materiale distribuito contenga immagini rappresentanti una condotta sessuale, la sua divulgazione o il suo possesso comportano le medesime pene. Per la determinazione della età della vittima delle suddette condotte si deve far riferimento alla testimonianza del minore stesso, di uno qualsiasi dei partecipanti alla rrealizzazione del materiale o di un esperto indicato dalle autorità, che può procedere alla visita medica della parte lesa :

Section 29B. (a) Whoever, with lascivious intent, disseminates any visual material that contains a representation or reproduction of any posture or exhibition in a state of nudity involving the use of a child who is under eighteen years of age, knowing the contents of such visual material or having sufficient facts in his possession to have knowledge of the contents thereof, or has in his possession any such visual material knowing the contents or having sufficient facts in his possession to have knowledge of the contents thereof, with the intent to disseminate the same, shall be punished in the state prison for a term of not less than ten nor more than twenty years or by a fine of not less than ten thousand nor more than fifty thousand dollars or three times the monetary value of any economic gain derived from said dissemination, whichever is greater, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (b) Whoever with lascivious intent disseminates any visual material that contains a representation or reproduction of any act that depicts, describes, or represents sexual conduct participated or engaged in by a child who is under eighteen years of age, knowing the contents of such visual material or having sufficient facts in his possession to have knowledge of the contents thereof, or whoever has in his possession any such visual material knowing the contents or having sufficient facts in his possession to have knowledge of the contents thereof, with the intent to disseminate the same, shall be punished in the state prison for a term of not less than ten nor more than twenty years or by a fine of not less than ten thousand nor more than fifty thousand dollars or three times the monetary value of any economic gain derived from said dissemination, whichever is greater, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (c) For the purposes of this section, the determination whether the child in any visual material prohibited hereunder is under eighteen years of age may be made by the personal testimony of such child, by the testimony of a person who produced, processed, published, printed or manufactured such visual material that the child therein was known to him to be under eighteen years of age, by testimony of a person who observed the visual material, or by expert medical testimony as to the age of the child based upon the child's physical appearance, by inspection of the visual material, or by any other method authorized by any general or special law or by any applicable rule of evidence. (d) In a prosecution under this section, a minor shall be deemed incapable of consenting to any conduct of the defendant for which said defendant is being prosecuted. (e) Pursuant to this section, proof that dissemination of any visual material that contains a representation or reproduction of sexual conduct or of any posture or exhibition in a state of nudity involving the use of a child who is under eighteen years of age was for a bona fide scientific, medical, or educational purpose for a bona fide school, museum, or library may be considered as evidence of a lack of lascivious intent".

La sezione 29/C prevede pene più gravi per chiunque possegga o venda, avendo consapevolezza del contenuto, matriale audiovisivo di tipo pornografico, realizzato con la partecipazione di minori impegnati in relazioni sessuali, la natura delle quali viene esplicitamente descritta all’interno dell’articolo stesso:

Section 29C. Whoever knowingly purchases or possesses a negative, slide, book, magazine, film, videotape, photograph or other similar visual reproduction, or depiction by computer, of any child whom the person knows or reasonably should know to be under the age of 18 years of age and such child is: (i) actually or by simulation engaged in any act of sexual intercourse with any person or animal;

(ii) actually or by simulation engaged in any act of sexual contact involving the sex organs of the child and the mouth, anus or sex organs of the child and the sex organs of another person or animal; (iii) actually or by simulation engaged in any act of masturbation; (iv) actually or by simulation portrayed as being the object of, or otherwise engaged in, any act of lewd fondling, touching, or caressing involving another person or animal; (v) actually or by simulation engaged in any act of excretion or urination within a sexual context; (vi) actually or by simulation portrayed or depicted as bound, fettered, or subject to sadistic, masochistic, or sadomasochistic abuse in any sexual context; or (vii) depicted or portrayed in any pose, posture or setting involving a lewd exhibition of the unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks or, if such person is female, a fully or partially developed breast of the child; with knowledge of the nature or content thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one-half years or by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment for the first offense, not less than five years in a state prison or by a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment for the second offense, not less than 10 years in a state prison or by a fine of not less than $10,000 nor more than $30,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment for the third and subsequent offenses. A prosecution commenced under this section shall not be continued without a finding nor placed on file. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a law enforcement officer, licensed physician, licensed psychologist, attorney or officer of the court who is in possession of such materials in the lawful performance of his official duty. Nor shall the provisions of this section apply to an employee of a bona fide enterprise, the purpose of which enterprise is to filter or otherwise restrict access to such materials, who possesses examples of computer depictions of such material for the purposes of furthering the legitimate goals of such enterprise".

Queste fattispecie sono accomunate dal comune scopo di lucro sotteso alla diffusione del materiale in questione.

573.035. 1. A person commits the crime of promoting child pornography in the second degree if, knowing its content and character, he: (1) Sells, delivers, exhibits or otherwise makes available, or offers or agrees to sell, deliver, exhibit, or otherwise make available, any child pornography; or (2) Buys, procures or possesses child pornography with the purpose to furnish it to others. 2. Promoting child pornography in the second degree is a class D felony, and upon conviction an additional fine of at least five thousand dollars, but not more than five hundred thousand dollars may be added to any other penalties imposed by law".

573.037. 1. A person commits the crime of possession of child pornography if he knowingly: (1) Possesses or controls any obscene material that has a minor as one of its participants or portrays as an observer of sexual conduct, sexual contact or a sexual performance a minor; or (2) Possesses or controls any material that shows a minor participating or engaging in sexual conduct. 2. Possession of child pornography is a class A misdemeanor unless the person has pleaded guilty to or has been found guilty of an offense under this section committed at a different time, in which case it is a class D felony".

Risulta più interessante riportare la prima sezione. Entambe sono comunque in Rete all’indirizzo riportato, insieme a quello di tutti gli altri codici presenti, nel Glossario.

"(A) No person shall do any of the following: (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, unless both of the following apply: (a) The material or performance is, or is to be, sold, disseminated, displayed, possessed, controlled, brought or caused to be brought into this state, or presented for a bona fide artistic, medical, scientific, educational, religious, governmental, judicial, or other proper purpose, by or to a physician, psychologist, sociologist, scientist, teacher, person pursuing bona fide studies or research, librarian, clergyman , prosecutor, judge, or other person having a proper interest in the material or performance; (b) The minor's parents, guardian, or custodian consents in writing to the photographing of the minor, to the use of the minor in the material or performance, or to the transfer of the material and to the specific manner in which the material or performance is to be used. (2) Consent to the photographing of the person's minor child or ward, or photograph the person's minor child or ward, in a state of nudity or consent to the use of the person's minor child or ward in a state of nudity in any material or performance, or use or transfer a material or performance of that nature, unless the material or performance is sold, disseminated, displayed, possessed, controlled, brought or caused to be brought into this state, or presented for a bona fide artistic, medical, scientific, educational, religious, governmental, judicial, or other proper purpose, by or to a physician, psychologist, sociologist, scientist, teacher, person pursuing bona fide studies or research, librarian, clergyman , prosecutor, judge, or other person having a proper interest in the material or performance; (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, unless one of the following applies: (a) The material or performance is sold, disseminated, displayed, possessed, controlled, brought or caused to be brought into this state, or presented for a bona fide artistic, medical, scientific, educational, religious, governmental, judicial, or other proper purpose, by or to a physician, psychologist, sociologist, scientist, teacher, person pursuing bona fide studies or research, librarian, clergyman , prosecutor, judge, or other person having a proper interest in the material or performance. (b) The person knows that the parents, guardian, or custodian has consented in writing to the photographing or use of the minor in a state of nudity and to the manner in which the material or performance is used or transferred. (B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented material or performance. Whoever violates division (A)(1) or (2) of this section is guilty of a felony of the second degree. Whoever violates division (A)(3) of this section is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or section 321 or 322 of the Revised Code, illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented material or performance in violation of division (A)(3) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree".

Neppure una rappresentazione ingannevole del minore o un affidamento in buona fede al fatto che il minore superi l’età del consenso costituisce valida causa di esclusione della punibilità":

"(a) Definition.--As used in this section, "prohibited sexual act" means sexual intercourse as defined in section 3101 (relating to definitions), masturbation, sadism, masochism, bestiality, fellatio, cunnilingus, lewd exhibition of the genitals or nudity if such nudity is depicted for the purpose of sexual stimulation or gratification of any person who might view such depiction. (b) Photographing, videotaping, depicting on computer or filming sexual acts.--Any person who causes or knowingly permits a child under the age of 18 years to engage in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such act is guilty of a felony of the second degree if such person knows, has reason to know or intends that such act may be photographed, videotaped, depicted on computer or filmed. Any person who knowingly photographs, videotapes, depicts on computer or films a child under the age of 18 years engaging in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act is guilty of a felony of the second degree. (c) Dissemination of photographs, videotapes, computer depictions and films.--Any person who knowingly sells, distributes, delivers, disseminates, transfers, displays or exhibits to others, or who possesses for the purpose of sale, distribution, delivery, dissemination, transfer, display or exhibition to others, any book, magazine, pamphlet, slide, photograph, film, videotape, computer depiction or other material depicting a child under the age of 18 years engaging in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such act is guilty of a felony of the third degree. (d) Possession of child pornography.--Any person who knowingly possesses or controls any book, magazine, pamphlet, slide, photograph, film, videotape, computer depiction or other material depicting a child under the age of 18 years engaging in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such act is guilty of a felony of the third degree. (e) Evidence of age.--In the event a person involved in a prohibited sexual act is alleged to be a child under the age of 18 years, competent expert testimony shall be sufficient to establish the age of said person. (e.1) Mistake as to age.--Under subsection (b) only, it is no defense that the defendant did not know the age of the child. Neither a misrepresentation of age by the child nor a bona fide belief that the person is over the specified age shall be a defense. (f) Exceptions.--This section does not apply to any material that is possessed, controlled, brought or caused to be brought into this Commonwealth, or presented for a bona fide educational, scientific, governmental or judicial purpose".

"Child nudity prohibited in publications.

Every person, firm, association, or corporation which shall publish, sell, offer for sale, loan, give away, or otherwise distribute any book, magazine, pamphlet, or other publication, or any photograph, picture, or film which depicts any child, or children, under the age of eighteen (18) years and known to be under the age of eighteen (18) years of age by such person, firm, association, or corporation in a setting which taken as a whole suggests to the average person that the child, or children, is about to engage in or has engaged in, any sexual act, or which depicts any above-mentioned child under eighteen (18) years of age performing sodomy, oral copulation, sexual intercourse, masturbation, or bestiality, shall, for the first offense be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, or by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both; for any subsequent offense, by imprisonment for not more than fifteen (15) years, or by a fine of not more than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), or both. Provided, however, that artistic drawings, sketches, paintings, sculptures, or other artistic renditions, shall be exempt from the provisions of this section".

Conclusa la panoramica sui codici penali americani, non si può che fare riferimento alla giurisprudenza, formate ancora molo importante per il sistema nordamericano. La Corte Suprema degli Stati Uniti si è pronunciata per 59 volte negli ultimi anni su problemi relativi allapornografia minorile nei diversi Stati dell’Unione.

Una "raccolta delle sentenze della Corte" è presente sul Web all’indirizzo http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct.