Children's Express interviewed Ray Smith, Program Manager with the United States Postal Inspection Service, on how the postal service stops child pornography in America. Some of the questions we asked were very hard to answer, but Smith answered them fully and he gave details about child pornography in America. We arrested about 54 individuals and we expect about another 55 to 60 arrests to occur. Smith explained that the kids involved in the pornography were very young, starting at two to five years. Children were bribed, or they did it because they didn't want to upset the adults, or they were forced into doing it.
Most pedophiles have a preferential age range in addition to a preference for gender.
Some of the criminals involved were teachers, police, priests and accountants. Most of the time the offender may be a family member or a trusted person in the community. The children in these child pornography tapes and photographs were confused and threatened in many cases. They were forced into doing something that was very self-degrading. In some of these videos or photographs we can see the fear in the child's face even though they may be directed off the set to smile.