August 24, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHILADELPHIA, PA – A new study published by Brennan Law Offices finds that the severity of child pornography charges vary widely across the country. The study compares the average state sentencing lengths in all 50 states based on data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission on federal child pornography convictions from 2021 to 2025. The findings show that federal sentencing lengths can range from 70 to 159 months on average, depending on the state.
Nationally, the average federal prison sentence for a child pornography offense was 115 months, or just over ten years, according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission. On a state-by-state basis, the study finds that Alabama has the longest federal sentencing length, which amounts to an average of 159 months across 62 cases.
In addition to variation on a state level, the study finds that prosecution volume also varied widely by district. In Pennsylvania, which is where Brennan Law Offices is based, the Eastern District imposed the state's harshest sentences, averaging 145 months across 70 cases between 2021 and 2025, compared with 88 months in the Western District. Separately, Pennsylvania state court data show that 47% of sexual offenses in the state involve child pornography, according to the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.
“While an offense as severe as child pornography is taken seriously across the nation, these numbers show that the severity of those penalties requires an understanding of how sentencing works all the way down to the district you’re based in,” said William Brennan, founding attorney of Brennan Law Offices.
The full study can be viewed on Brennan Law Offices’ website at:
About Brennan Law Offices
Brennan Law Offices is a Philadelphia-based law firm representing clients in criminal defense matters ranging from misdemeanors to complex federal cases. With experience handling cases with both a local presence and nationwide attention, the firm holds a consistent standard to all clients regardless of geographic location or background. Learn more at philadelphiacriminallaw.com
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Samantha Kessler