Refining Child Pornography Law : Crime Language and Social Consequences The legal definition of child pornography is at best unclear. In part because of this ambiguity and in part because of the nature of the crime itself the prosecution and sentencing of perpetrators the protection of and restitution for victims and the means for preventing repeat offenses are deeply controversial. In an effort to clarify the questions and begin to formulate answers in this volume experts in law sociology and social examine child pornography law and its consequences. Focusing on the roles of language and crime definition the contributors present a range of views about the increasingly visible role that child pornography plays in the national conversation on child safety as well as the wisdom of the punishment of those who produce distribute and possess materials which may be considered child pornography