NCJ Number
59305
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
RESPONSES ON 197 QUESTIONNAIRES COMPLETED BY PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS OF THE MINNESOTA CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT REVEAL THESE OFFICERS' ATTITUDES TOWARD RESTITUTION AND THEIR PROBLEMS WITH ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
Abstract
TWENTY-ONE STATEMENTS ABOUT RESTITUTION AND POSSIBLE/RELATED PROBLEMS WERE PRESENTED IN A QUESTIONNAIRE SENT TO OFFICERS WITH A VARIETY OF CASELOADS. RESPONSE DATA SHOW THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF AGENTS BELIEVE THAT RESTITUTION IS A VIABLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SANCTION WHICH SHOULD BE USED EXTENSIVELY WITH ALL TYPES OF OFFENDERS. HOWEVER, THE RESPONDENTS DID HAVE PROBLEMS WITH RESTITUTION, THE MOST PRESSING OF WHICH INVOLVED THE COURTS' LACK OF SPECIFICATION ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF RESTITUTION REQUIRED OF ADULT OFFENDERS. AGENTS ALSO COMPLAINED THAT RESTITUTION IS TOO TIME CONSUMING AND THAT A LACK OF SUITABLE CHORES EXISTS FOR WORK-ORDERED RESTITUTION, PARTICULARLY IN JUVENILE CASES. THE OFFICERS NOTED THAT OFFENDERS OFTEN LACK THE EARNING ABILITY TO MAKE RESTITUTION (AGAIN, JUVENILE OFFENDERS HAD THE MOST SEVERE PROBLEMS), AND THAT VICTIMS OFTEN REPORT LOSSES DISHONESTLY. LESS SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS WERE THE NEED FOR SUPERVISION OF WORK-ORDERED RESTITUTION, THE POSSIBILITY OF LEGAL LIABILITY WHEN PROCESSING RESTITUTION, AND LIABILITY FOR ACCIDENTS OCCURRING DURING RESTITUTION. SURVEY DATA ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)