Compensation Voted For Crime Victims

A House committee approved measures Friday that would require criminals to compensate their victims and allow unlawfully seized evidence to be considered in more instances.

The House Judiciary Committee also adopted an amendment to a criminal alien deportation bill that would require the federal government to pay the cost of such deportations.

With a sole dissenting vote, the 35 Judiciary Committee members voted to send the compensation bill to the full House.

The compensation would include expenses incurred by the victim during a trial, such as lost income, child care and transportation.

The measure also would give judges discretion to order compensation for any person, not just the crime victim, who was physically, emotionally or financially hurt by the crime.