>you're unable to be made whole again because the criminal doesn't have any money to pay you back.

What does that have to do with rehabilitation? That person can go to prison, realize the errors of their ways, and have a healthy life.I don't have to like nor forgive them. I'm not being "made whole again" no matter how long you lock them up.

> If they're not forced to produce something of value to give to you, then how can you ever be made whole again?

1) you generally don't get something "produced of value", unless suffering is a currency now. Probably is in 2025

2) insurance. not everything can be given back, but many material goods can be compensated.

>If it's insurance, then why do non-criminals paying insurance premiums foot the bill?

because that's how insurance works, in spirit. You're all pooling together a fund so that you help out some other person when they need it. The instigator is often not the one footing the bill to begin with. Shaking down a criminal with no money is as useful as yelling at a forest fire as it burns your place down.

>Doesn't mean that everyone should be forced to work while in prison. But surely for any and all crimes that have a clearly defined dollar amount, shouldn't that criminal be forced to pay that amount back?

if they have it, sure. As is, this isn't the model of the "justice" system, though. You're not getting paid back for anyone put behind bars.