Even nominal amounts of restitution can be helpful. Effective restitution practices help victims achieve satisfaction with the criminal justice system. The courts have discretion as to whether to order restitution. Restitution may never be paid fully by offenders, and some that is paid may never reach the victim. Other issues include problems collecting restitution from indigent offenders, insufficient information about offenders' assets, inappropriate payment schedules and insufficient resources required to enforce payment of restitution.
Restitution helps victims achieve healing and holds offenders accountable for their actions.
Also, offenders' restitution payments don't necessarily have to be monetary. Community service is often an appropriate form of restitution, depending on the offense. The APPA will interview prosecutors, victim advocates, judges, attorneys who represent victims, court administrators and probation, parole and prison personnel. An advisory panel will be established to discuss the identified obstacles and techniques for managing and collecting restitution and a plan for disseminating the project's information. OVC is the federal government's chief advocate for crime victims and their families.