Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice looks at crime in terms of harm that has been done, rather than rules which have been broken. It seeks to repair the harm caused by crime. Sometimes the harm that is done is not measurable in a court of law. Harm can be physical but it can often be emotional. Relationships and community are also harmed by crime, not just individuals.

Restorative Justice seeks to include all the people that have been affected by crime in finding solutions. It holds offenders accountable and encourages them to take responsibility for their actions. It offers victims the opportunity to ask questions that only the offender can answer, express how it affected them, and be part of determining a meaningful way to repair the harm.

The way this most often works best is by people talking face to face in a mediated process. First, a trained mediator meets with participants individually to prepare them for the meeting. In this meeting, all participants have a chance to speak about what happened and how it affected them. Often there is a change that happens when people feel heard and understood. Once this has happened, then discussing what to do and coming up with a meaningful solution comes more naturally. Offenders are more likely to fulfill restitution agreements if they have been part of this process than if it was determined by a judge.

"I have to say, I honestly feel better about what was done. I am not so angry any more."
- a victim

"I liked how we expressed ourselves with respect amongst each other."
- an offender

"I liked that we came to a fair, do-able agreement. I liked that we could hear the other side of the story."
- a victim

"Things were set straight and feelings were addressed"
-parent of an offender

"It made me open to people"
- an offender

What are the benefits of Restorative Justice?

Victims feel heard and included in the process of justice
Victims have the chance to ask questions that only the offender can answer
Offenders feel like they have a genuine opportunity to put things right
Offenders are confronted with the emotional impact of their crime
Larger problems can come to light that the community can start to take responsibility for

Practices within Restorative Justice

Mediation- allows those involved in and affected by crime to meet face-to-face with a trained mediator, who helps the parties decide together what will best repair the harm done.
Conferences- are meetings of the people involved in and affected by a crime, along with members of their families and/or their community, facilitated by a trained mediator.
Circles - are a way of building community that may or may not focus on the specifics of any one crime. They involve people from many parts of the community. The underlying assumption of the circle process is that the responsibility for dealing with crime in the long term lies with the larger community, not just the persons and families directly involved or affected by a crime.