Restitution Specialists

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

With the passage of the Arizona Victims’ Bill of Rights in 1990, crime victims were afforded constitutional rights. One of these is a victim’s right to receive “prompt restitution from the person(s) convicted of the criminal conduct that caused the victim’s loss or injury.” Often this restitution process is difficult and time-consuming, further compounding the effects of victimization on the victim. Depending on the nature of the offense and the defendant’s criminal history, cases may be voluminous and comprehensive in nature. This adverse trend was the impetus for the creation of the Restitution Specialist program/positions within the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) Victim Services Division. The Restitution Specialist’s primary role is to fill these gaps in victim services.