Court Opinion

ID: 9706662
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 01:48:52.162645+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:24.315281
License: Public Domain

TAMILIA, Judge,
concurring:
I agree with the majority that this case should be remanded for resentencing with the trial court to be directed to enter an Order of restitution. Where I believe the trial court erred was in failing to compel the representative of the Department of Welfare to be present to give insight into the means and procedure for collecting the restitution and the policy of the Department as to restitution in given cases.
*55I do not agree with the majority that restitution is mandatory per se, but believe that despite the apparent mandatory nature of the language regarding restitution, failure to take into consideration the individual circumstances of each case can well result in confiscatory and excessively punitive measures which will deny the person and or his family the basic necessities of life. Experience shows that an excessive restitution Order does not result in payment but simply imposes greater burdens on the court and its staff to enforce the Order or requires imprisonment of the defendant for violation of the Order. For these and other reasons which could be expounded upon, I would hold that while the sense of the legislation is to make restitution mandatory, the form it takes is discretionary with the court. Having the representative of the Department of Welfare present to explain department policies and expectations would appear to be necessary for this purpose.
I do not fault the trial judge in refusing to make an Order of restitution if the Department fails to make available a representative. The trial judge has the duty to impose a sentence based on reason and proper consideration of needs and expectations of the parties. If the Department fails to cooperate in this determination, a proper sentence cannot be imposed.