Restitution takes place whenever injured parties are repaid by the individuals who are directly responsible for their losses. Define and discuss restitution, symbolic restitution, and creative restitution. Compare and contrast them

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Restitution can come in many forms, either financially or through services to the victim. Community service is an example a type of restitution service that is focused on the community as a whole. The offender might work in an animal shelter or in a senior center. Sometimes the work is related to the harm, for example if the offender was charged with animal cruelty then services to an animal shelter might help him understand more fully the harm he created through his crime. This type of community service could be an example of symbolic restitution if the offender was not able to address the harm directly to the victim and instead substituted the shelter. Creative restitution occurs when the offender creates the restitution concept outside of the requirements of the law and performs above and beyond expectations of the victim. This is the ideal type of restitution as it demonstrates the offender is not only aware of the harm he created but desires to make amends.