A new law signed earlier this month is designed to bring justice and compensation to victims of child pornography.  

The Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018 was co-sponsored by Pennsylvania Senator Patrick Toomey.

Washington correspondent Morgan Wright reported on the law will ensure that victims have access to restitution from the perpetrators who produce or possess child pornography.

Senator Toomey says it’s time to make those who possess or share child pornography pay for their crimes literally.

“It’s so appalling to abuse a child this way it’s just unbelievable, unforgivable,” said Senator Toomey.

Senator Toomey co-sponsored the Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. It’s named for three children abused by child pornographers.

The law allows victims of child pornography to collect compensation from any person who is convicted of possessing or distributing the victims’ image. The money would help victims pay for medical treatment, counseling, even legal fees.

“I have no sympathy for people who purchase, and download, use these images,” said Senator Toomey.

“Those folks will owe that money forever until they pay it off,” said Teresa Huizar, the Executive Director of the National Children’s Alliance.

“Congress is saying and the President is saying, that whatever your role in that you deserve to be punished and you have to pay and you shouldn’t be able to get off,” said Huizar.

Huizar says child pornography is a much bigger problem than people realize, and smart phones and social media have made it easier to acquire and share the videos and images.

“Previously it was more difficult to get a hold of, more difficult to trade and what we have now is a situation in which an abuse victim can expect that that image will exist forever,” said Huizar.

Huizar and Toomey both said the new law is a good first step toward holding accountable everyone involved in child pornography.