What is restitution?

Restitution refers to the financial obligation imposed on a defendant to compensate victims for losses incurred due to a crime. It is a way to ensure that victims receive some form of payment for the damages or losses they have suffered as a result of the offender's actions. This practice supports the ethical obligation to rectify harm and also plays a role in the broader goals of restorative justice by emphasizing accountability and the need to restore balance to the lives affected.

The other options relate to different legal concepts: security for court appearances deals with guarantees to ensure defendants show up for their court dates; conditional releases from prison involve terms under which a prisoner may be released before serving their full sentence; and court-ordered supervision is a probationary measure intended to monitor individuals post-release. None of these options directly encompass the idea of compensating a victim, which is the essence of restitution.