HOUSTON – Victims nationwide could have an easier time getting restitution from those convicted of possessing images of child pornography.
A federal appeals court ruled this week in a Texas case that federal restitution law doesn't require victims to specifically detail how a defendant has harmed them.
But legal experts say the issue may have to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court because courts are split on how to decide such compensation.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday ruled that federal restitution law generally doesn't require victims to detail how an individual defendant harmed them in order to get compensation. That differs from previous rulings.
In the Texas case, a woman is seeking compensation from an East Texas man who was convicted of possessing child pornography.
