Module 4
Victim Restitution and Compensation

Restitution

The word restitution is defined as “an act of restoring or a condition of being restored, such as a making good of or giving an equivalent for some injury.”1

As Module 3 explained, the federal Crime Victims’ Rights Act affords crime victims “the right to full and timely restitution as provided in law.”2 

After the perpetration of a sexual assault, it will take time for victims to recover their mental, emotional, and possibly their physical, equilibrium—if ever—and as a result of their victimization, a victim may incur mounting out-of-pocket costs. For example, victims may face medical expenses for treatment, hospital stays or rehabilitation, or bills for mental health counseling as they work toward recovery. Some victims suffer a loss of wages as they are not able to immediately return to work, or need assistance for emergency relocation as their perpetrator is their live-in partner. In both the federal and state justice systems, a crime victim can request restitution to recover these costs.3

Disclaimers and Footnotes

1. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restitution.

2. 18 U.S.C. § 3771.

3. For more information, visit http://victimsofcrime.org/help-for-crime-victims/get-help-bulletins-for-crime-victims/restitution.

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