NCJ Number
138373
Journal
Justice System Journal Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (1992) Pages: 746-758
Date Published
1992
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The experience of victims with restitution and with the programs designed to collect restitution was examined using data gathered through telephone interviews with 49 victims in New York City, 55 victims in Minneapolis, 49 in Salt Lake City, and 45 victims in Montgomery, Alabama.
Abstract
The four programs were selected from a national telephone survey of restitution program directors because they were well-organized and could document a high success rate in collecting restitution. The 30-minute interviews covered the extent of victim participation in determining the size of the award; whether the award covered the losses; the extent of victim contact with the restitution program; perceptions of timeliness of payments; and satisfaction with the award size, speed of payment, and amount of money received. Data were also gathered from case records. Results revealed that victim satisfaction with the restitution process is very low, but that it could be increased by better collection efforts and better efforts to keep victims informed. 21 references