Introduction

Many crime victims are awarded restitution at the sentencing of an offender but fail to receive any money. Others are paid only a small portion of the restitution ordered. A recent study of restitution collection in Colorado found that convicted offenders ordered to pay their victims more than $26 million in 1996 still owe more than $20 million.¹ Even though many restitution orders will never be fully paid, states are taking various legislative approaches to improve the collection of restitution.