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Obstacles Undermining Restitution Economic realities limit the ability of many convicts to meet their restitution obligations. Because the street crime problem is in large part an outgrowth of poverty and the desperation it breeds, restitution obligations collide with competing claims for the same earnings. Ex-offenders have more pressing expenses and other debts. Furthermore, restitution is […]

Opportunities to Make Restitution Restitution is an extremely flexible sanction that is not being used to its full potential. It can be applied at each stage in the criminal justice process, from the immediate aftermath of the crime up until the final moments of parole supervision fol- lowing a period of imprisonment. Figure 12.1 illustrates

Divergent Goals, Clashing Philosophies Even though support for restoring restitution to its rightful place in the criminal justice process is grow- ing, its advocates do not agree on priorities and purposes. Some advocates have been promoting this ancient practice as an additional form of pun- ishment, while others tout it as a better method of

The Rise, Fall, and Rediscovery of Restitution The practice of making criminals repay their victims is an ancient one. Spontaneous acts of revenge were typical responses by injured parties and their kin before restitution was invented. Prior to the rise of governments, the writing of laws, and the crea- tion of criminal justice systems, the

GAINING RESTITUTION FROM OFFENDERS Back to Basics A renewed interest in restitution developed during the 1970s. Restitution takes place whenever injured parties are repaid by the individuals who are directly responsible for their losses. Offenders return stolen goods to their rightful owners, hand over equiva- lent amounts of money to cover out-of-pocket expenses, or perform

THE COSTS OF VICTIMIZATIONS The social costs of crime-related expenditures are staggering, according to economists’ estimates. The losses people suffer can be identified as either intangible or tangible. Intangible costs are hard to translate into dollars and cents but refer to the pain, suffering, and reductions in the quality of life indi- viduals endure when

Assistance and Recovery After a traumatic disaster such as a politically inspired bombing, victims are likely to be over- whelmed by intense emotions of shock, anxiety, confusion, sorrow, and grief. Some are immediately beset by outrage and revenge fantasies, or even guilt for surviving, while others undergo delayed reac- tions. As the unfocused anger dissipates,

Assessing the Threat of Terrorism To determine the number of people harmed by terrorist attacks, and to discern whether or not the threat is growing or subsiding, criminologists and victimologists need a definition for “terrorism” that clearly spells out which incidents should be counted and which belong in other categories (like hate crimes or ordinary

CASUALTIES OF POLITICALLY INSPIRED VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM Terrorism predates organized warfare. Lone indivi- duals and small bands surreptitiously attacked their enemies long before armies of men were thrown into battle. Terrorism took the form of killing lea- ders or potential challengers to a throne and of spreading panic by carrying out barbaric acts. Although the

Showing Solidarity As long ago as 1894, an association was established in New York City to take care of the widows and orphans of fallen officers. But over the next 100 years, families of law enforcement agents mistakenly were assumed to be stronger emotionally and better prepared than civilians to cope with losses and grief