How to Pay or Collect Restitution
The Santa Monica City Attorney’s Criminal division is
dedicated to obtaining and distributing restitution whenever legally appropriate. Our committed group of Attorneys and Staff
can help guide you through the restitution process.
How to Collect Restitution: If you are a victim in one of our criminal cases that has pled and wish to seek restitution through the criminal court or if you have received a restitution letter from our office, you must forward written proof of the amount of your loss to our office. Please include any documentation you may have. When writing or calling us, refer to your case by the defendant’s name, case number, and/or DR number. All documentation should be sent to the following address:
Santa Monica City Attorney’s
Office
Restitution Coordinator
1685 Main St., 3rd
Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Or via email: attorney.mailbox@santamonica.gov
If you have suffered certain economic losses as a result of this crime, the court may order the defendant to pay restitution to you. Seeking restitution through our office is not necessarily a substitute for filing a civil lawsuit. Many types of damages (e.g., pain and suffering, punitive, loss of consortium, etc.) cannot be part of a criminal restitution order. The criminal statutes permit restitution only for economic losses. If you feel that you have been damaged in ways that are not covered by the criminal statutes, you should consult an attorney to determine if a civil action is appropriate.
How to Pay Restitution: If you are defendant in a criminal case seeking to pay court ordered restitution, forward payment to the address provided below. Our office only accepts Cashier’s Check and Money order. We do not accept personal checks nor cash. Please make payments payable in the Victim’s name. If you are unsure of the Victim’s name, please confirm the payable information by either consulting with your defense counsel or inquiring with our Office before sending in a payment. You must include your case number and name when sending in payments so our office can appropriately allocate payments to your case and to the restitution amount you owe. Send restitution payments to:
Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office
Restitution Coordinator
1685 Main St., 3rd Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Please note: due to the pandemic, our Front Office hours are limited. If you prefer to drop off documents or payments in person, please call (310) 458-8336 to confirm office hours before visiting.