ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at restitution, civil litigation, insurance payments, and victim compensation as means of both restoring the victim's losses and bringing the victim back into the criminal justice system. It defines offender restitution and the rationale underlying this approach. The chapter evaluates the impact of restitution and comments on the benefits and limitations of civil litigation. It outlines several recommendations for improving civil remedies and discusses eligibility restrictions for compensation. Victim compensation takes place when the state, rather than the perpetrator, reimburses the victim for losses sustained at the hands of the criminal. Many states make emergency awards when victims or survivors face immediate financial hardship. Victim compensation administrators generally assume that their programs increase victim participation in the criminal justice system. A micro-level effect refers to any changes in a person, such as being more satisfied with the criminal justice system if a person received compensation.
