§2259A Assessments in child pornography cases

Summary

Courts must make people convicted of child pornography crimes pay an extra money assessment on top of any other punishment. The cap is $17,000 for convictions under 2252(a)(4) or 2252A(a)(5), $35,000 for other trafficking convictions, and $50,000 for production convictions. These dollar limits are adjusted every year using the Consumer Price Index. When deciding how much to charge, the judge must look at the factors listed in sections 3553(a) and 3572. Most federal rules about fines apply to these assessments, but if those rules conflict with the payment order below, the payment order here controls. Money collected must be paid in this order: the special assessment under section 3013; restitution to victims of any production or trafficking crimes the defendant committed; the assessment required here; other court-ordered payments under this title; then any other fines, penalties, costs, or payments from the sentence. The assessment does not reduce or replace any other penalty.