In a five to two decision released yesterday, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that victims can have travel expenses paid for them by perpetrators of crime. The decision overruled an earlier decision of the Michigan Court of Appeals.
The majority wrote that travel costs can be considered part of full restitution payments:
The issue is whether these statutes authorize courts to order a defendant to pay restitution for the reasonable travel expenses that victims incur while securing their stolen property and attending restitution hearings. We conclude that the statutes do authorize such payments because they require courts to order full restitution, i.e., restitution that is complete and maximal.
Justices Markman and McCormack dissented from the decision, saying nothing in the law says judges can make defendants pay travel expenses.
Posted by Samantha Meinke
