Criminal Justice Response to Victims and Crime

  When victimized by crime, the ability to remedy the associated loss—whether economic, physical, or emotional—has taken many forms. In earlier centuries, simple revenge or restitution through direct repayment within a community or family may have been the norm. Now, societal progress has led to forms of restitution defined by laws and governments. When an offender is unable to repay an economic loss to a victim, which is often the case, other entities may fill that gap, such as insurance companies, charities, or even government programs. Likewise, governments may assist victims with the associated