Restitution

Restitution is the act of restoring a person or property to its prior state or compensating someone for a loss caused by another's conduct. The term is used across legal, economic, and social contexts, with a focus on making the harmed party whole.

In criminal law, restitution is a court-ordered remedy in which the offender must compensate the victim for losses directly caused by the offense. Payments can cover medical bills, property damage, stolen goods, and sometimes lost wages. Restitution differs from fines (which go to the state) and from civil damages sought through lawsuits. It may be imposed as part of a sentence, during probation, or as a standalone order, and it is often subject to collection mechanisms if the defendant has limited means.

In civil contexts, restitution can mean returning specific property or its value to the rightful owner when possession is improper. It is used to restore the victim’s position and can apply when a party has benefited from a wrongful act without a formal finding of liability in a separate proceeding.

In other disciplines, restitution may refer to different concepts. For example, in physics the term restitution coefficient describes how elastic a collision is, and in cultural property debates restitution concerns returning artworks or artifacts to their rightful owners or countries of origin. Across its uses, restitution centers on restoring or compensating for loss resulting from another’s actions.