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Victim Compensation Program
Restitution Information
In California, a crime victim has a constitutional right to RESTITUTION.
Restitution defined in a law dictionary means “the act of making good or
giving equivalent for, any loss, damage or injury”. Restitution involves
restoring economic losses incurred by crime victims or returning what was taken
from them as a result of a crime. The purpose of restitution is to help
victims recover from any financial hardship caused by criminal activity.
Components of restitution include, but may not be limited to:
- Medical and dental expenses for crime-related injuries
- Funeral/burial expense
- Relocation expenses
- Mental Health and counseling expenses
- Lost, damaged, or stolen property
- Financial losses resulting from theft, forgery, embezzlement,
etc.
- Income loss
The District Attorney’s Office and Probation Department assist
victims to obtain restitution from convicted defendants in every
appropriate case. It is recommended that you keep copies of
bills, receipts and estimates of expenses related to the crime to
help calculate the amount of your restitution. Prosecutors
can seek a restitution order from the judge handling the criminal
case at the time of sentencing. If the defendant’s sentence
includes probation, the Deputy Probation Officer may contact you
for your restitution input in order to determine restitution and
collect as a condition of probation.
The District Attorney Victim-Witness Assistance staff is available
to assist victims in making an application to the Victim Compensation & Government
Claims Board (The VCGCB). The VCGCB administers a program
that will assist eligible victim with losses that may be reimbursable
by the program. Those losses do NOT include financial and
property losses, but may include assistance with crime-related medical,
dental, mental health, relocation and funeral/burial expenses, among
other losses.
For more information about victim restitution contact the District
Attorney’s Office Victim-Witness Assistance Program or, click
here:
Financial Recovery: A Victim's Guide to Restitution
For more information about the Victim Compensation & Government
Claims Board services, click here: http://www.vcgcb.ca.gov/victims/
See brochure on
Enforcing Criminal or Juvenile Court Restitution Orders as Civil
Judgments.
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Contact Information:
Santa Barbara
1112 Santa Barbara Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Tel: (805)568-2300
Santa
Maria
312-D East Cook Street
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Tel: (805)346-7540
Lompoc
115 E. Civic Center Plaza
Lompoc, CA 93436
Tel: (805)737-7760 |
