On Tuesday, The Restitution in Pennsylvania Task Force released its report with recommendations to significantly improve state laws and procedures related to the quality of restitution ordering, collection and disbursement to crime victims.
Data show that $434 million in restitution was assessed and $50 million was collected statewide over the past three years. The collection rate is affected by practical factors, including that 33 percent of those assessed are incarcerated, but this report highlights several ways that collection of restitution can be improved.
The 39-member Task Force, chaired by Lavery, was comprised of representatives from all three branches of state government, counties, the criminal and juvenile justice systems, advocacy groups and crime victims.
The members met over a 12-month period to determine how to maximize the reimbursement of financial losses to crime victims. The Task Force’s 47 recommendations are grouped into four categories:
· Uniformity of Practice
· Strengthening Accountability
· Coordination of Information
· Expansion of Authority
Some of the recommendations of the task force include the establishment of restitution funds and restitution programs throughout both the criminal and juvenile justice systems, placing defendants on a single electronic payment plan to ensure that prior, older cases are not neglected in favor of the most current case, and legislation to authorize courts to order wage attachment for defendants who have been found in contempt for nonpayment of restitution, costs or fines.
The complete report is online at http://www.PA-RestitutionTaskForce.info
Data show that $434 million in restitution was assessed and $50 million was collected statewide over the past three years. The collection rate is affected by practical factors, including that 33 percent of those assessed are incarcerated, but this report highlights several ways that collection of restitution can be improved.
The 39-member Task Force, chaired by Lavery, was comprised of representatives from all three branches of state government, counties, the criminal and juvenile justice systems, advocacy groups and crime victims.
The members met over a 12-month period to determine how to maximize the reimbursement of financial losses to crime victims. The Task Force’s 47 recommendations are grouped into four categories:
· Uniformity of Practice
· Strengthening Accountability
· Coordination of Information
· Expansion of Authority
Some of the recommendations of the task force include the establishment of restitution funds and restitution programs throughout both the criminal and juvenile justice systems, placing defendants on a single electronic payment plan to ensure that prior, older cases are not neglected in favor of the most current case, and legislation to authorize courts to order wage attachment for defendants who have been found in contempt for nonpayment of restitution, costs or fines.
The complete report is online at http://www.PA-RestitutionTaskForce.info