What is restorative justice?
• Restorative justice is a way of thinking about crime and conflict. • It is not a particular practice or type of program, but rather a philosophy, or a set of principles. Restorative justice processes are premised on the following principles: • holding the offender accountable in a more meaningful way • repairing the harm caused by the offender • achieving a sense of healing for the victim and the community • reintegrating the offender back into the community • The United Nations Working Group on Restorative Justice defines it in the following way: “A process whereby parties with a stake in a particular offence resolve collectively to deal with the aftermath of the offence and its implications for the future.
Restorative Justice is sometimes described a ‘problem solving approach’ to crime. It tries to make things good again (restore) after a crime, for victims, offenders and the communities that they live in. This approach focuses on encouraging offenders to take responsibility for what they have done, apologising and making amends to their victims and resolving to change their behaviour. For victims, restorative justice provides a chance to ask the offender questions or to tell him or her how their criminal behaviour has affected others. An essential part of the process is that it is up to the victim whether or not they wish to take part. Restorative justice can take different forms, but does not necessarily involve face-to-face meetings with the offender. There can be face-to-face mediation if that is preferred, or indirect mediation, where the mediator liases between the victim and the offender. There may be a restorative conference, including a wider group of people e.g. the young perso
Restorative justice seeks to make offenders accountable for their crimes by repairing the harm done. Under the supervision of Anoka County Community Corrections, the program brings together offender and victim to work out a way the offender can be held accountable, address victim needs, and make amends.
Restorative justice is a philosophy that shifts the focus of the justice process from being focused on the offender to resolving the problem and restoring the harm created by the offender’s actions. Restorative justice has three primary stakeholders: the victim, the offender, and the community. The state gives up its central role in dispensing justice and assumes the function of facilitating reparation of the harm done to the victim and the community. The harm caused the victim and community is assessed by the parties involved, and the offender is accountable for restoring the victim and community, as much as possible, to their pre-offense condition.
Restorative Justice is sometimes described a ‘problem solving approach’ to crime. It tries to make things good again (restore) after a crime, for victims, offenders and the communities that they live in. This approach focuses on encouraging offenders to take responsibility for what they have done, apologising and making amends to their victims and resolving to change their behaviour.
