Restitution is a payment made by the convicted perpetrator of a crime that is ordered by the court and intended to restore the victim financially. Restitution covers financial losses and physical injury. This can include property damage, the value of stolen goods, and the costs of medical expenses and lost wages. Restitution exists, not as a punishment for the defendant, but as a means of recovery for the victim. A crime victim who has lost money or property as the result of a crime is entitled to restitution from the defendant because the crime victim deserves to be made whole. Although it is awarded at the same time as sentencing, restitution should be considered independently from the defendant’s sentence.
