Victim restitution: victim's contact information.

Existing law requires a court to order a criminal defendant to make restitution in every case in which a victim has suffered economic loss as a result of the defendant's conduct. In cases where a person is committed to an institution under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the court has ordered the person to pay restitution to a victim, existing law authorizes the applicable county probation officer to send the victim's contact information and a copy of the restitution order to the department for the purpose of distributing restitution if the victim consents. This bill would, notwithstanding the above provision requiring the victim's consent, authorize a district attorney to send the victim's contact information and a copy of the restitution order to the department for that purpose if the district attorney finds that it is in the best interest of the victim to send that information. If the victim affirmatively objects, the bill would prohibit the district attorney from sending the victim's contact information to the department. The bill would provide that the district attorney would not be required to inform the victim of the right to object.