Restorative Justice
Returning respect to victim, offender and community
Restorative Justice philosophy offers an alternative to the belief that crime is a violation of law and the state is the victim. Restorative Justice assumes crime to be a harm done to others and relationships.
RJ programs focus on the needs and obligations of the victim, community and offender as the primary stakeholders in response to crime.
RJ allows victims a voice in the process and supports victims' healing.
RJ is multidimensional in its consideration of all issues of harm caused by crime.
RJ serves as an alternate approach to sentencing and reintegrating offenders into the community.
RJ is now supported by a number of correctional facilities across the country, is endorsed by the American Bar Association, and has been demonstrated to lower recidivism rates, especially for youth offenders.
Key RJ Practices Include:
- Family & Community Group Conferences
- Victim Offender Conference
- Victim Impact Programs
- Re-entry Programs
Family & Community Group Conferences involve the people most affected by a crime: victim, offender, family, community, friends, and key supporters of both.
Victim Offender Conferences provide interested victims an opportunity to meet their offender in a safe, structured setting.
Victim Impact Programs serve to educate offenders about the effect of their actions on the lives of their victims.
Re-entry Programs combine elements of RJ practices. The Re-entry Group Conference includes an agreement on how the offender can best repair the harm caused by the crime. The program provides for a mentor who is a guide and an advocate for the youth offender.
Restorative Justice Outcomes:
- Focuses on needs of victim and restoration of offender to the community.
- Supports healing process of victims while offenders learn about the impact of crime.
- Deters future offending in a cost effective manner.
- Holds offenders directly responsible for their behavior in the context of a community of care.
- Facilitates empowerment of family and community, achieving genuine restoration.
- Builds links among stake-holders: victims, offenders, communities, victim services, law enforcement and justice agencies.
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