Restitution refers to a judge’s sentencing decision ordering a convicted offender to compensate the crime victim for financial losses incurred because of the crime. The primary basis for restitution is that a wrongdoer should make the victim whole by providing resources (most often money) to put [Page 1257]the victim in the same position he or she was in before the crime occurred. Restitution stands in contrast to fines, which are economic sanctions imposed as punishment, and fees, which are economic sanctions imposed to reimburse the criminal justice system for the past costs of arrest and prosecution and future costs of supervision.

Restitution can be ordered for tangible losses that result from damage to or loss of property; from harm to a person resulting in medical, hospital, ...