Restitution
Court-ordered payment from a person who committed a crime to the victim to cover the victim's financial losses.
Restitution is money a court orders a convicted person to pay to the victim of their crime. The purpose is to make the victim whole — to reimburse them for financial losses they suffered because of the crime. Restitution can cover medical bills, property damage, stolen property, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses.
In Minnesota, victims have the right to request restitution as part of the criminal case. The court must order restitution when there are identifiable victims with financial losses, unless the court finds that restitution would be inappropriate. Restitution is separate from fines, which are paid to the government, and from any civil lawsuit the victim may file.
Why it matters: Restitution gives crime victims a way to recover their financial losses through the criminal justice system without having to file a separate civil lawsuit. For defendants, unpaid restitution can affect probation status and even lead to additional penalties.
Example: A person convicted of vandalism is ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the property owner to cover the cost of repairing the damage.
Criminal sentencing, plea agreements, victim impact statements