The Justice Department Should Support Child Sex Abuse Victims
The Justice Department is wrongly siding with convicted child molesters and pedophiles instead of child sex abuse victims seeking criminal restitution in federal court
During the past two years, victims of child pornography have been seeking restitution in federal courts throughout the country. Using a long forgotten passage in the Violence Against Women Act championed by then-Senator Joe Biden in 1994, child sex abuse victims are asking federal judges to award the mandatory restitution guaranteed by this law.
Unfortunately, the Justice Department has abandoned these victims on appeal by advancing a legal standard which the courts themselves consider unworkable. The Justice Department's position is effectively preventing hundreds of child victims from receiving any money from the tens of thousands of child molesters and pedophiles who collect and trade child sex abuse images.
Last month the Justice Department filed a brief opposing child sex abuse victims in the Supreme Court. Now the Justice Department is asking the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to nullify a court-ordered million dollar award to a child sex abuse victim, arguing that the legal standard which resulted in the award is too easy.
It's crazy that some lawyer in Washington, DC thinks it's a good idea to expend taxpayer dollars to fight against the interests of child sex abuse victims everywhere in the country!
Why is the Justice Department arguing for something which the courts of appeal say is unworkable and un-provable, while child sex abuse victims are left with nothing?
Congress should immediately contact the Justice Department and ask why the Criminal Division is opposing the victims in In re: Amy Unknown in the Fifth Circuit and United States v. Shawn Crawford in the Sixth Circuit.
Congress should also hold hearings to find out why the Justice Department is siding with convicted child molesters and pedophiles instead of child sex abuse victims.
For more information on this issue, visit http://www.childlaw.us/restitution/
Unfortunately, the Justice Department has abandoned these victims on appeal by advancing a legal standard which the courts themselves consider unworkable. The Justice Department's position is effectively preventing hundreds of child victims from receiving any money from the tens of thousands of child molesters and pedophiles who collect and trade child sex abuse images.
Last month the Justice Department filed a brief opposing child sex abuse victims in the Supreme Court. Now the Justice Department is asking the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to nullify a court-ordered million dollar award to a child sex abuse victim, arguing that the legal standard which resulted in the award is too easy.
It's crazy that some lawyer in Washington, DC thinks it's a good idea to expend taxpayer dollars to fight against the interests of child sex abuse victims everywhere in the country!
Why is the Justice Department arguing for something which the courts of appeal say is unworkable and un-provable, while child sex abuse victims are left with nothing?
Congress should immediately contact the Justice Department and ask why the Criminal Division is opposing the victims in In re: Amy Unknown in the Fifth Circuit and United States v. Shawn Crawford in the Sixth Circuit.
Congress should also hold hearings to find out why the Justice Department is siding with convicted child molesters and pedophiles instead of child sex abuse victims.
For more information on this issue, visit http://www.childlaw.us/restitution/
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