Ellingburg v. United States · ¶17

It is true, as amicus thoroughly explains, that the MVRA seeks to compensate crime victims, a nonpunitive goal. Several provisions of the MVRA refect that objective, such as a provision requiring that restitution amounts be based on a victim's loss. §3664(f)(1)(A); see also, e. g., §3664(j). But those provisions show only that Congress intended restitution under the MVRA to both punish and compensate. And so long as the text and structure of the Act demonstrate that Congress intended at least “to impose punishment,” that “ends the inquiry.” Smith, 538 U. S., at 92; see Paroline, 572 U. S., at 456; Pasquantino, 544 U. S., at 365.

preliminary print (page proof)
Source edition
Passage preview. Read in context for the complete text, notes and references.