A bill named for two women whose childhood images were turned into heinous pornography was handily passed in the Senate on Wednesday. The Amy and Vicky Child Pornography Victim Restitution Improvement Act was approved by a 98-0 vote. The measure…
Senate passes bill to help child porn victims recover damages
The bill is in response to a 2014 Supreme Court case that essentially ruled in favor of a man convicted for viewing child pornography. The court decided that even though the man had clearly harmed the victim, he was only…
U.S. Sentencing Commission Releases Video to Aid Federal Crime Victims
The United States Sentencing Commission today released a video entitled “Victims’ Rights and Federal Sentencing,” which aims to help crime victims exercise their right to participate in the sentencing process. Federal crime victims have a right to participate in sentencing…
Federal Criminal Restitution for Child Pornography Victims
On April 23, 2014, the United States Supreme Court issued a much-anticipated decision concerning federal criminal restitution for child pornography victims. The case, Paroline v. United States, 134 S. Ct. 1710 (2014), attracted 14 amicus briefs supporting a victim named…
U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies Standards for Restitution Orders
The court in Paroline crafted a new causation standard for awards of restitution following federal criminal convictions. As Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. noted in his dissent, the restitution statute at issue in this case is not limited to child-pornography…
Signs of Sexual Abuse: Tip Sheet for Media
A pamphlet developed by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), What Is Child Sexual Abuse?, highlights various forms of sexual victimization and their distinctive signs and symptoms. Targeted to media professionals, the pamphlet summarizes common behavioral red flags displayed…