Kennebec County Courthouse. Photo: John Christie.
The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting has released a four-part investigation on the realities of the state's restitution program. Restitution is ordered to help relieve the financial damage caused to crime victims, but many of those victims never see a penny. Among the victims are members of a veterans' group, who wanted to build a new Legion post. Even the District Attorneys are frustrated, and there's little help for victims trying to collect what they need to move on.
From the series:
"Maine crime victims are waiting for millions of dollars – perhaps as much as $12 million – in payments ordered by the courts from the people who stole their money, broke into their car or burglarized their home."
Read the full four-part series at the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting