Child pornography is an egregious crime, whose victims are forever scarred by this exploitation. While nothing can ever fully repair the damage, financial restitution from those responsible for their pain would help these victims move forward in their lives. Unfortunately, under current law, the restitution process for child pornography victims is flawed. It wrongly places the burden of proof on the victim and fails to recognize the additional damage that occurs each time an image is re-shared on the Internet. The sad reality is many victims often receive little or no restitution.
That is why I introduced the Amy and Vicky Child Pornography Victim Restitution Improvement Act, which would empower victims of child pornography and ensure they receive the support they need and deserve. Specifically, this bill establishes a straightforward, practical restitution process--based on the unique harm of child pornography causes--that places the burden of proof on the defendant. It also accounts for the potential of future damage to the victim through the re-sharing of images on the Internet and requires medical services like therapy and rehabilitation are included in the restitution package.
The Amy and Vicky Child Pornography Victim Restitution Improvement Act makes the recovery and well-being of victims a top-priority in our fight to end this heinous exploitation of children.