With Ottawa expected to reintroduce new child porn legislation soon, critics are keeping up the pressure for increases in minimum sentences. Many people convicted of such crimes end up serving no jail time.

Toronto dentist Leslie Griesdorf represented one such recent case. A respected professional, he was caught with thousands of images of child porn on his home computer -- some of children as young as two.

Griesdorf's case came to the headlines in July, when he received an 18-month conditional sentence after pleading guilty to accessing and possessing child pornography. He was given house arrest, but no jail time.

Such a sentence is not uncommon in Canada, and those working to protect children say it's time the law changed.

"The practical reality is we say to people when we give them a conditional sentence, you've sexually exploited a child, now go home and watch TV," says David Butt, a former prosecutor. "That's not good enough. Jail has to be a message."

It's a view shared by police. They want minimum sentences that include jail time for anyone convicted of possessing child porn.

Police say users are well aware a conviction likely won't mean any jail time, and they watch them discuss this openly on the Internet.

"It's not a strong deterrent," says Det.-Insp. Angie Howe of the Ontario Provincial Police. "It doesn't scare them away from offending, and that is certainly our concern."

But defence lawyer Walter Fox says minimum sentences for child porn would be create some difficulties.

"You won't be able to distinguish between the makers of the pornography, the distributors of the pornography, and someone who is merely curious and has wandered into the field for one occasion," Fox told CTV News.

During the election campaign, Conservatives accused Paul Martin of being soft on child porn.

Now, Ottawa has plans to reintroduce new child porn legislation, but won't say if minimum sentences are part of it.

However, an earlier version of the bill, which did not pass before the election was called, included increased maximum sentences for child-related offences.

Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said the government's commitment is to child protection laws.

With a report from CTV's Jed Kahane