What is restitution?

[quietbloke]

What is restitution? How does it work?

 

[Hank77]

Legally speaking it means to restore someone back to a position they had before someone or something caused them to suffer loss.
That's the best I can do without looking up the definition.

If I run over your fence and I pay you to restore it, that is paying restitution for the loss that I caused you.

 

[quietbloke]

Thankyou 'Hank'. I always think of Zacheus who repaid money taken dishonestly

 

[rocknanchor]

I see from the Cambridge Dictionary for our two countries, the def. is nearly identical,

British
Formal - the return of objects that were stolen or lost:
Specialized - law payment made for damage or loss:

American
Law - payment for damage or loss of property, or the return of items stolen or lost:

What may I ask is rendered inactive who justify not carrying through with this, is it not the "gift"?

“Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” (Matthew 5:23,24)​

 

[tdidymas]

If you put forth the time and effort to make amends in relationship, that is, go to the one you sinned against, confess sincerely, and ask forgiveness - this extends a way for emotional healing for that person, and could be called psychological restitution.
TD

 

[quietbloke]

Thankyou 'rocknanchor' and 'tdidymas' and 'hank' for your valuable contributions. Wonderful how after being born again,our behaviour begins to change. Zacchaeus,the dishonest taxcollecter came to Jesus and had his life changed and wanted to right the wrongs he had done. He willingly gave half of his wealth to the poor and gave back four times as much to those he had cheated. This was a voluntary restitution.