---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2259A"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2259A"
heading: "Assessments in child pornography cases"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2259A"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 110 — Sexual Exploitation and Other Abuse of Children"
---

# §2259A. Assessments in child pornography cases

- (a) **In General.—** In addition to any other criminal penalty, restitution, or special assessment authorized by law, the court shall assess—
  - (1) not more than $17,000 on any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) convicted of an offense under section [2252(a)(4)](/usc/18/2252.md?p=a-4) or [2252A(a)(5)](/usc/18/2252A.md?p=a-5);
  - (2) not more than $35,000 on any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) convicted of any other offense for trafficking in [child pornography](/usc/18/2256.md?p=8); and
  - (3) not more than $50,000 on any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) convicted of a [child pornography](/usc/18/2256.md?p=8) production offense.
- (b) **Annual Adjustment.—** The dollar amounts in [subsection (a)](#a) shall be adjusted annually in conformity with the Consumer Price Index.
- (c) **Factors Considered.—** In determining the amount of the assessment under [subsection (a)](#a), the court shall consider the factors set forth in sections [3553(a)](/usc/18/3553.md?p=a) and 3572.
- (d) **Imposition and Implementation.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** The provisions of subchapter C of [chapter 227](/usc/18/chptII/ch227.md) (other than [section 3571](/usc/18/3571.md)) and subchapter B of [chapter 229](/usc/18/chptII/ch229.md) (relating to fines) apply to assessments under this section, except that [paragraph (2)](#d-2) applies in lieu of any contrary provisions of law relating to fines or disbursement of money received from a defendant.
  - (2) **Effect on other penalties.—** Imposition of an assessment under this section does not relieve a defendant of, or entitle a defendant to reduce the amount of any other penalty by the amount of the assessment. Any money received from a defendant shall be disbursed so that each of the following obligations is paid in full in the following sequence:
    - (A) A special assessment under section 3013.
    - (B) Restitution to victims of any [child pornography](/usc/18/2256.md?p=8) production or trafficking offense that the defendant committed.
    - (C) An assessment under this section.
    - (D) Other orders under any other section of this title.
    - (E) All other fines, penalties, costs, and other payments required under the sentence.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 115–299, § 5(a), Dec. 7, 2018, 132 Stat. 4386.)