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.