Benefits of a Restorative Justice Approach
Benefits of a restorative justice approach
| Restorative Justice |
Traditional Criminal Justice System |
| Crime causes harm |
Crime is law breaking |
Offender Accountability means taking
steps toward repairing that harm
|
Offender Accountability means accepting the infliction of harm |
The people most affected by the crime
should be able to participate in its resolution
|
The two main parties are the State and the Defendant |
To achieve community safety it is more important
to build community peace than to increase order or punishment
|
To achieve public safety it is most important to increase order |
Opportunities for persons who have been harmed:
- To be heard and have questions answered.
- To obtain a mutual comprehension of what happened.
- To determine their own plan on how to address their specific needs.
- To discuss and explore different forms of reparation such as restitution, exchange of information through a facilitator, written/verbal apology, community services/project, meeting face-to-face, video messages, etc.
- To heal from the harm caused in order to move forward in a more positive way.
Opportunities for persons who have committed an offense:
- To understand the crime and how it had an impact on the victim and others.
- To develop an understanding of the causes and consequences of their behavior.
- To make amends with the victim directly and explore ways on how to take responsibility for their actions in a meaningful way.
- To be accountable and reconnect with their community in a healthier way.
Opportunities for the community:
- For an enhancement of public safety and well-being.
- To provide a safe space for all the parties impacted by the crime so they can have a dialogue and have a choice on how the harm caused will be repaired.
- To partner with the justice system and reduce court costs.
- To transform the traditional relationship between communities and their governments in responding to crime.