**Restorative justice** is a philosophy and practice of justice that focuses on **repairing the harm** caused by crime and conflict. Instead of focusing on punishment, it emphasizes accountability, healing, and the involvement of those most directly affected: the victims, the offenders, and the community.
Core Principles of Restorative Justice
Restorative justice operates on a set of core principles that guide its practice:
* **Crime is a violation of people and relationships, not just the law.** Crime creates obligations to put things right.
* **Victims’ needs and harms are central to the process.** The primary focus is on assisting victims and empowering them to participate in defining how to repair the harm.
* **The offender has a personal responsibility to repair the harm.** Accountability is defined as understanding the impact of their actions and actively taking steps to make amends.
* **The community is actively involved.** Community members participate in the justice process, supporting the parties, and helping to reintegrate the offender.
A commonly cited set of principles are the **Five R’s**:
* **Relationship:** The harm is seen as damage to relationships.
* **Respect:** Treating all parties with dignity and respect.
* **Responsibility:** The person who caused the harm takes ownership of their actions.
* **Repair:** The offender makes amends for the harm to the extent possible.
* **Reintegration:** Both the victim and the offender are supported in rejoining the community.
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Key Practices and Programs
Restorative justice is put into practice through various programs and processes, often involving a structured, facilitated dialogue:
| Practice | Description |
| :— | :— |
| **Victim-Offender Mediation (VOM)** | A trained mediator facilitates a meeting between the victim and the offender to discuss the crime and agree on a plan for repair, such as restitution or community service. |
| **Family Group Conferencing (FGC)** | This brings together the victim, offender, and their families/supporters to discuss the impact of the crime and collectively decide how the harm will be addressed. |
| **Restorative Circles (or Peacemaking Circles)** | A process, often rooted in indigenous practices, that involves victims, offenders, community members, and justice officials sitting in a circle to discuss the harm and collectively determine a resolution and path forward. |
| **Victim Impact Panels** | Victims of a specific type of crime (e.g., drunk driving) share their stories with a group of unrelated offenders to help the offenders understand the human cost of their actions. |
| **Reparative Boards** | A group of trained community volunteers meets with the offender to determine sanctions and monitor the completion of a restorative agreement. |
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Restorative Justice vs. Retributive Justice
Restorative justice offers a sharp contrast to the dominant **retributive justice** model (the traditional criminal justice system), which focuses on punishment.
| Feature | Restorative Justice | Retributive Justice |
| :— | :— | :— |
| **Core Question** | Who has been hurt? What are their needs? Whose obligation is it to repair the harm? | What laws were broken? Who did it? What punishment do they deserve? |
| **View of Crime** | A violation of **people and relationships** that creates obligations. | A violation of **the law and the state** that creates guilt. |
| **Central Focus** | **Victim needs** and offender responsibility for repairing harm. | **Offender** getting what they deserve (punishment). |
| **Stakeholders** | Victims, offenders, and community members are **actively involved**. | The state and legal professionals control the process; victims and community are often on the sidelines. |
| **Outcome Goal** | **Repair and healing** for the victim and community; offender accountability through making amends. | **Imposition of pain** (punishment) to deter and control behavior. |