Restitution Through the Court

Laura Finger, Restitution Clerk

If the court places the defendant on probation, the court can order him to pay restitution to the victim as a "condition" of probation. The court does not always order restitution and sometimes it cannot be collected. Our office will make every effort to see that restitution is paid if ordered.

Laura Finger is the restitution clerk for our office. She uses the Victim Impact Statements, police reports or personal contact with the victims to establish the amount of restitution we seek in a particular case and monitors, collects and disperses any restitution payments made in each case.

The judge can only order restitution in cases where a person is placed on probation. Thus, in serious cases where a defendant is going to prison, restitution through the criminal case is unavailable, except through the CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND. Also, the old phrase "you can’t get blood out of a turnip" sometimes applies to make the collection of restitution from indigent criminals impossible.

Your insurance company may provide coverage for personal injury or property loss due to a crime. If so, you will need to reimburse them if they have already paid you and we are ultimately able to obtain restitution from the defendant.