What is restitution in the context of criminal justice?

Restitution refers to the obligation of an offender to compensate the victim for the harm caused by their criminal conduct. This typically involves financial payment meant to cover losses incurred as a direct result of the offense, such as medical expenses, damaged property, or lost wages. The purpose of restitution is to restore the victim, as much as possible, to the position they were in before the offense, thereby addressing the impact of the crime and fostering a sense of justice. In this way, it serves not only as a measure of accountability for the offender but also as a form of support for the victim in their recovery process. This distinguishes restitution from other potential outcomes of a criminal case, such as a reduction of a sentence or requirements for community service, which do not focus directly on compensating the victim.