Restitution Outcome and Probationers' Assessments of Restitution

Abstract

This article reports the impact of Kohlberg's moral development stages on probationers' receptivity to the intents of financial restitution. Effects of these perceptions and their interactions with moral development on restitution outcome are also presented. Indepth interviews furnished data needed to diagnose moral development and construct ratings of offenders' perceptions. Compliance data were extracted from probation records and interviews with probation officers. Results suggest that low maturity offenders were more likely to identify with deterrent and instrumental intents; high maturity offenders oriented to reparative and rehabilitative intents. Among the offenders as a whole, adherence to notions of reparation and concern for the victim facilitated compliance, whereas perceptions of restitution as lenient and a good deal had adverse impacts. Orientations distinguishing low maturity successes from failures were dysfunctional ones (e.g., restitution is a good deal, lenient, or an inconvenience). An orientation to reparation distinguished high maturity successes from failures.