Westchester launches campaign to locate victims owed restitution

<p>Westchester County has launched a new campaign to locate victims who are owed restitution.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Aug 8, 2017, 8:50 PM

Updated 2,459 days ago

Share:

Westchester County has launched a new campaign to locate victims who are owed restitution.
Judges in New York typically demand that offenders pay restitution money to victims for things like medical bills, counseling, stolen property and lost time at work.
However, a News 12 Turn to Tara investigation has revealed that more than 1,000 crime victims in Westchester have not been paid the millions in restitution money that's owed to them.
The investigation revealed that there are roughly 1,400 people owed an estimated $4 million in Westchester alone, which means that 66 cents of every dollar collected by county police has gone unclaimed.
“We have the money and we want to give it away," says Probation Department Commissioner Rocco A. Pozzi.
Pozzi says his office recently launched a campaign to locate the victims owed money, sending out hundreds of letters across the county to try and track people down after initial notifications mailed to their homes got no response.
So far, he says that they received 825 responses, totaling $375,000.
The victims of serious crimes could be owed amounts ranging from a few hundred dollars to up to $25,000 a piece.
Other states have agencies to relocate crime victims through email and social media. In New York, the burden is on the victims to keep their contact information up to date.
If they don’t, the money collected is eventually given to other victims who “have” been found but their offenders have not paid up.


More from News 12
1:48
Police: 133 arrested during growing pro-Palestinian demonstration on SUNY New Paltz campus

Police: 133 arrested during growing pro-Palestinian demonstration on SUNY New Paltz campus

1:49
Cooler day for the Hudson Valley with temps in the 60s; tracking rain for Sunday

Cooler day for the Hudson Valley with temps in the 60s; tracking rain for Sunday

2:17
Police arrest around 70 people during pro-Palestinian protest at SUNY Purchase

Police arrest around 70 people during pro-Palestinian protest at SUNY Purchase

WATCH LIVE: Bridge over section of I-95 is being demolished due to damage from truck fire

WATCH LIVE: Bridge over section of I-95 is being demolished due to damage from truck fire

0:33
Volunteer firefighter dies in Tuxedo motorcycle crash

Volunteer firefighter dies in Tuxedo motorcycle crash

0:30
Ex-Brewster village officer sentenced for protecting prostitution businesses

Ex-Brewster village officer sentenced for protecting prostitution businesses

0:41
Police: Child sustained minor injuries when struck by on-duty Monticello police officer

Police: Child sustained minor injuries when struck by on-duty Monticello police officer

0:32
Rep. Ryan calls for planned Central Hudson rate increase to be denied

Rep. Ryan calls for planned Central Hudson rate increase to be denied

0:21
Yonkers Art unveils 2 new exhibits ahead of weekend festival

Yonkers Art unveils 2 new exhibits ahead of weekend festival

1:26
Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning

Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning

0:33
Dobbs Ferry man facing federal charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition

Dobbs Ferry man facing federal charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition

1:47
EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Monticello officer who admitted to sex assault of underage teen reinstated to department after arrest

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Monticello officer who admitted to sex assault of underage teen reinstated to department after arrest

0:36
Police: Woman arrested in connection to student brawl outside Yonkers school

Police: Woman arrested in connection to student brawl outside Yonkers school

1:44
Poughkeepsie leaders ask public for help to find troubled teens before tragedy strikes

Poughkeepsie leaders ask public for help to find troubled teens before tragedy strikes

1:02
Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for completion of New Rochelle affordable housing development

Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for completion of New Rochelle affordable housing development

0:32
Bedford School District to receive more money aid, boost in funding from state

Bedford School District to receive more money aid, boost in funding from state

0:30
Blooming Grove highway worker seriously injured during tree removal

Blooming Grove highway worker seriously injured during tree removal

0:23
Overnight road work to close Exit 7 on Cross County Parkway in Westchester

Overnight road work to close Exit 7 on Cross County Parkway in Westchester

1:44
Exploring the Westchester children's museum: A journey of play and discovery

Exploring the Westchester children's museum: A journey of play and discovery