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Restitution is ordered in some white collar convictions

On Behalf of | Jun 11, 2020 | White Collar Crimes

A person who is charged with a white collar crime that cost another person or entity money might have to pay restitution. This is done to shift the financial impact of the crime from the victim to the person who committed the crime. It is only one penalty that the court might order.

Some individuals might think that they can get out of paying restitution if they enter into a plea deal, but this isn’t how it works. The court can still order restitution, even if it wasn’t included in the terms of the plea. It’s imperative that defendants consider this if they’re thinking about accepting a plea deal.

When restitution is ordered, it is typically paid to the court. The court will then turn the funds over to the appropriate victim(s). This is important if there is more than one victim in the case. It helps to ensure that restitution goes where it should.

Paying restitution when it’s ordered is critical. If you’re ordered to pay it, your criminal sentence isn’t considered complete until it’s all paid. You can’t get out of paying it by filing for bankruptcy or using similar methods. Instead, the court will likely issue a payment plan for you if you can’t pay it all at once.

If you’re ordered to pay restitution, remember that this might not be only the monetary amount the victim lost. You may also have to pay special types of restitution, depending on the crime you’re charged with and the circumstances. Be sure to ask your attorney about this aspect of your case if restitution is likely to be included in the sentence.

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