PROPOSED MODEL FOR INDIVIDUALIZED OFFENDER RESTITUTION THROUGH STATE VICTIM COMPENSATION (FROM VICTIMOLOGY - A NEW FOCUS, V 2 - SOCIETY'S REACTION TO VICTIMIZATION, 1974 BY ISRAEL DRAPKIN AND EMILIO VIANO - SEE NCJ-15541)

• NCJ Number: 30592
• Author(s): V WILLIAMS; M FISH
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A PROPOSAL IS MADE TO IMPLEMENT A RESTITUTION SCHEME WITHIN A CORRECTIONAL TOKEN ECONOMY SYSTEM BY REQUIRING INMATES TO PAY A PORTION OF THEIR POINTS EARNED TO THE STATE TO REPAY THE STATE FOR ITS VICTIM COMPENSATION.

Abstract

UNDER THIS SYSTEM, THE STATE WOULD ACT AS AN INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN THE VICTIM AND THE OFFENDER. THE STATE WOULD PAY VICTIM COMPENSATION ACCORDING TO ITS PRESENT OR PROPOSED PLAN. IN THE STATE'S TRANSACTIONS WITH THE VICTIM, IT WOULD EMPHASIZE THAT IT WAS ACTING AS AN INTERMEDIARY AND THAT THE OFFENDER WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE STATE THE EQUIVALENT OF THE AMOUNT BEING ADVANCED TO THE VICTIM. IN THIS MANNER THE VICTIM WOULD RECEIVE HIS RESTITUTION IN A TIMELY MANNER AND IN A USEFUL PECUNIARY FORM. HE WOULD ALSO RECEIVE 'SATISFACTION' IN KNOWING THAT THE STATE WOULD EXTRACT RESTITUTION FROM THE OFFENDER. ON THE OFFENDER'S END OF THE TRANSACTION, HE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN 'POINTS' FOR PARTICIPATION IN A REHABILITATION PROGRAM. HE CAN BE REQUIRED TO PAY A PORTION OF ALL POINTS EARNED TO THE STATE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT HE IS INDIRECTLY MAKING RESTITUTION TO HIS VICTIM. THIS WOULD NOT BE SO BURDENSOME TO THE INMATE THAT IT WOULD KILL HIS INCENTIVE TO EARN POINTS IN THE PROGRAM. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT THE PRIMARY ADVANTAGE OF THIS METHOD IS THAT IT WOULD RESTORE THE DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE VICTIM AND THE OFFENDER BY IMPRESSING UPON BOTH PARTIES THE PERSONAL ELEMENT OF RESTITUTION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)