NCJ Number
149912
Date Published
1994
Length
113 pages
Annotation
This study focuses on court orders issued by the Helsinki City Court to private parties for compensation for losses from theft.
Abstract
The first phase of the study examines 112 cases of theft and aggravated theft considered by the court in 1991, in which the court ordered that the offender pay compensation to the victim. Additional data were collected on 45 cases in which the victim did not request compensation. During the second stage of the study, victims completed a questionnaire asking them how much they had received as compensation and from whom. Compensation for losses from crime are paid through the National Damages Act, the State Compensation for Victims of Crime Act, and voluntary insurance schemes. In property crimes, most victims receive no compensation, and when they do, it is from an insurance company rather than from funds provided for by legislation. In most cases, there is no attempt made to collect money for compensation from the offender. 8 tables, 3 figures, 113 notes, 71 references, and 1 appendix