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Restitution For Crime Victims Is Integral To Justice

When offenders are convicted, they can be ordered to pay for a victim’s losses. Those dollar amounts can add up. The U.S. Attorney in South Dakota says his office collected $3.4 million in fiscal year 2014, with two-thirds of that amount coming from criminal cases. If a congressional act passes, people viewing child pornography could be held financially responsible to a greater extent.

U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson says ordering defendants to pay victims for their financial loss is a vital component of the justice system. Johnson tells Victoria Wicks his office has a Financial Litigation Office dedicated to collecting what’s owed.

Rapid City freelancer Victoria L. Wicks has been producing news for SDPB since August 2007. She Retired from this position in March 2023.
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