What is “Restitution”?
Restitution, in the context of criminal law, is when a judge orders a person who has been convicted of a crime to pay their victim money in order to help “make up” for the crime. Under many state and federal laws, notably the federal law known as the Mandatory Victims’ Restitution Act of 1996, restitution is required after any violent crime and certain other offenses.
Restitution involves ordering the defendant to pay the victim a sum of money designed to compensate the victim for the monetary costs of the crime, such as medical bills, property damage, and lost wages. Under the federal Mandatory Victims’ Restitution Act of 1996, restitution is required when a violent crime has been committed and for certain other, limited, offenses. Many state and federal laws also require a criminal offender to make restitution to the victim, and the court will order restitution under those laws when the offender is sentenced.
