What is Restitution?
Juvenile crime is a serious community problem that affects everyone. Restitution is the process whereby juvenile offenders are put to work to repay their victims for loss, damage, or personal injury. PayBack’s goals are:
How Does PayBack Work?
Youth who come before 5 St. Louis Metro Area Family Courts for crimes such as vandalism, shoplifting, burglary or assault are screened, counseled and placed on court-ordered community service. For this mandatory work, they earn minimum wage credit through PayBack, to be used exclusively for repayment to their victims who would otherwise be unable to be compensated for their losses.
Where Does the Money Come From?
Tax deductible contributions from businesses, community donors, grants, as well as PayBack’s fund-raising efforts. Youthful offenders "earn" money to reimburse their crime victims by working at Court assigned and supervised work sites throughout the community.
Why is PayBack Effective?
This program is successful because youthful offenders learn they must be accountable for their actions. They gain valuable skills during the course of their community service. They also have the opportunity to interact with positive role models which enhances community safety. Over 90% of the participants complete their community service obligation at one of over 200 work sites in the metropolitan area.
Who Provides Jobs?
Community nonprofit and/or public agencies including animal shelters, nursing homes, parks, fire departments, and churches willing to provide supervised work sites. Children are evaluated on their performance and attitude while on the job at one of over 200 work sites in the metropolitan area.
Who Benefits From the PayBack Program?
Juvenile crime is a serious community problem that affects everyone. Restitution is the process whereby juvenile offenders are put to work to repay their victims for loss, damage, or personal injury. PayBack’s goals are:
- To compensate the victims for their loss with money earned by the youth who committed the crime,
- to restore the juvenile’s respect for the law,
- to awaken a youth’s sense of personal responsibility,
- and to instill good work habits and job skills which enhance the future…so that first offenders don’t become repeat offenders.
How Does PayBack Work?
Youth who come before 5 St. Louis Metro Area Family Courts for crimes such as vandalism, shoplifting, burglary or assault are screened, counseled and placed on court-ordered community service. For this mandatory work, they earn minimum wage credit through PayBack, to be used exclusively for repayment to their victims who would otherwise be unable to be compensated for their losses.
Where Does the Money Come From?
Tax deductible contributions from businesses, community donors, grants, as well as PayBack’s fund-raising efforts. Youthful offenders "earn" money to reimburse their crime victims by working at Court assigned and supervised work sites throughout the community.
Why is PayBack Effective?
This program is successful because youthful offenders learn they must be accountable for their actions. They gain valuable skills during the course of their community service. They also have the opportunity to interact with positive role models which enhances community safety. Over 90% of the participants complete their community service obligation at one of over 200 work sites in the metropolitan area.
Who Provides Jobs?
Community nonprofit and/or public agencies including animal shelters, nursing homes, parks, fire departments, and churches willing to provide supervised work sites. Children are evaluated on their performance and attitude while on the job at one of over 200 work sites in the metropolitan area.
Who Benefits From the PayBack Program?
- The Community ~ Youth provide many workforce hours performing services that enhance neighborhoods they reside in. Positive role models at work sites help build strong and safe communities.
- The Victims ~ Victims are acknowledged in the restitution process which provides them with some monetary compensation for their losses.
- Youthful Offenders ~ Become aware of their responsibility to obey the law, gain valuable job experience and develop work skills that prepare them for future employment.
- Not-for-profit and Public Agencies ~ Participating organizations gain valuable hours of work that enhance their agencies.
- The Donors ~ Those who support PayBack are teaching youth the importance of personal responsibility and good citizenship while restoring their faith in the justice process.