Victims Reparation Project
The Victims Reparation Project (VRP) monitors Juvenile Justice, JJ commitments for restitution orders and fine compliance. To achieve consistency in practices related to fines and victim compensation, the VRP provides policy guidance within the JJ and to outside agencies. Monitoring includes the evaluation of interrelated, statewide systems affecting restitution application.
With emphasis on restorative justice principles, the project works to ensure offenders are held accountable for the financial consequence of their criminal conduct. This is accomplished through aggressive identification of offender restitution obligations, so that the parole and institutions accounting offices may likewise collect monies owed to victims and or the Victims Compensation and Government Claims Board.
In addition, the VRP provides restitution related training's to both JJ staff and offenders for the purpose of providing staff a greater understanding of the types and requirements of restitution and improving JJ ward accountability and responsibility.
Implementation of JJ's Victims Reparation Project has resulted in the following:
- Increased restitution assessments;
- Increased restitution collections and remittances;
- Increased identification of Victims of Crime (VOC) Program claims resulting in enhanced VOC Program reimbursement;
- An increase in JJ victims' awareness of financial assistance through the State Board of Control's VOC Program;
- The development of standardized restitution procedures;
- Improved disbursement of restitution collected from offenders participating in the Department's Free Venture Program;
- Improved communication with external agencies regarding YA restitution issues; and,
- Improved tracking of restitution orders.