What is civil restitution?

Restitution involves the court, as part of a sentence in a criminal case, ordering a defendant to compensate the victim for losses suffered as a result of the crime. All states have laws providing that convicted defendants pay restitution to their victims.

Do you get a fee for restitution in a civil case?

In a civil lawsuit filed by a crime victim, the victim’s attorney will collect a fee, generally between 30-40% of the total recovery. This is not the case with criminal victim restitution, because the district attorney…who helps present the victim’s expenses…does not collect a fee.

Who is the victim in a restitution case?

Victim restitution (compensation) refers to a victim’s right to recover any economic losses that he/she incurred as the result of another person’s criminal wrongdoing. “Victims” may include 1.1. Restitution orders vs. restitution fines

What happens if a defendant does not pay restitution?

And even if the defendant is incarcerated following his/her restitution order, California law still allows the state to collect victim compensation through an inmate’s trust account. 25 3.3. What happens if the defendant’s probation expires and all victim restitution payments have not been paid? 4. Special Circumstances

Can a restitution order be collectible in California?

Once a victim is awarded restitution, the order is collectible as if it were a civil judgment. This means that the victim will have all the resources available under California law to collect his/her payment.

How can I get restitution from a judge?

Victims can also try to collect restitution through the civil court. To get the restitution order “docketed,” or entered as a civil judgment, the victim must file an Affidavit of Identification of Judgment Debtor with the court.

What happens if a court grants partial restitution?

If the court grants partial restitution it shall also specify the full amount of restitution that may be docketed as a civil judgment under subdivision 3. The court may not require that the victim waive or otherwise forfeit any rights or causes of action as a condition of granting restitution or partial restitution.

Is there a fee to file a restitution order?

There is no filing fee for victims named in the restitution order. Once a civil judgment is filed, information about the victim becomes public. Victims can use the tools available through the civil courts to collect on this judgment, for example, garnishment of wages or bank accounts.

Can a restitution order be reduced to compensatory damages?

However, the restitution order shall provide that all restitution is payable to actual victims first. Any amount ordered paid as restitution shall be reduced by any amount later recovered as compensatory damages for the same loss in any related civil proceeding.