Criminology Term: Subrogation
Subrogation is a legal term in criminology that grants an individual or an organization the ability to step into the shoes of another party and assume their legal rights and responsibilities.
In criminal cases, subrogation may occur when a victim or their insurance company seeks to recoup damages or losses caused by a crime from the individual or entity accountable for the offense.
Consider a scenario where an individual's car is stolen and subsequently retrieved by law enforcement. The victim's insurance company may cover the costs for the damages caused by the theft and then proceed to recover those expenses from the thief.
This is an instance of subrogation, where the insurance company is subrogated to the victim's rights and can file a lawsuit against the offender for damages.
Furthermore, subrogation may also happen when a government agency, such as a district attorney's office, seeks to recover restitution on behalf of the crime victims. In such cases, the agency would have the right to sue the defendant for damages, as it is subrogated to the victim's rights.
Subrogation can be a valuable legal tool in criminal cases, as it empowers victims and other parties to reclaim their losses or damages caused by criminal activity.
Nonetheless, it must be employed legally and uphold the rights of all parties involved.
