RESTITUTION, WITH OFFENDERS MAKING REPARATIONS TO THEIR VICTIMS, HAS BECOME A POPULAR CONCEPT. SUCH REPARATIONS HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED AS PART OF THE SENTENCING STRUCTURE BY NUMEROUS LEGAL INSTITUTIONS. IT IS ASSUMED THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE PUT INTO PRACTICE, AND THAT RESTITUTION IS COMMONLY USED AS A CONDITION OF PROBATION. A BRIEF SURVEY CONDUCTED IN 1976 DISCOVERED 19 PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA WHICH PRIMARILY USED RESTITUTION AS PART OF A PRETRIAL DIVERSION OR PROBATION SYSTEM. LEAA HAS FUNDED ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS, AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION OFFICE PLANS TO ALLOCATE $2 MILLION TO THE FUNDING OF 8 TO 10 RESTITUTION PROGRAMS DEALING WITH JUVENILES. THE POPULARITY OF RESTITUTION IS FELT TO HAVE A BASIS IN THE DISSATISFACTION WITH EXISTING METHODS OF REHABILITATION AND CORRECTIONS. BESIDES SERVING AS AN ADDITIONAL OPTION FOR SENTENCES, RESTITUTION PROVIDES DIRECT AND TANGIBLE BENEFITS TO THE VICTIMS OF CRIME. THE PROBLEMS WITH RELIANCE ON RESTITUTION PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO MAY QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS AND THE DIFFICULTY IN APPLYING UNIFORM PUNISHMENTS TO OFFENDERS WHO MAY AVOID INCARCERATION IN RESTITUTION PROGRAMS. A TRANSCRIPT OF DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED. (TWK)