The Sensible Sentencing Trust says it's bad enough people have to deal with crime, without having to then fight to get reparations paid out.

Across the Wellington region 2000 victims of crime are waiting for overdue payments.

Figures show $10 million is owed to victims of crime across the Wellington region, and more than $2 million dollars of that is overdue.

Trust founder Garth McVicar said in trying to chase up that money, people are being re-victimised.

"It also destroys any semblance of confidence they might have in the Justice System even though that's quickly disappearing anyway."

McVicar said ordering someone to pay reparation is an alternative to sending them to prison, but there's no mechanism in place to make sure the money's paid.

However, he cited examples from overseas, such as Canada where "they've got farms where people have to go and actually work on government farms to pay off their reparation."

Garth McVicar said the will and passion needed to change the system isn't there.