Restorative Justice is a system for working with crime related problems. The focal point is how an offense has
damaged relationships between people and within the community. An offender must accept responsibility for causing
harm and then learn how he/she has personally harmed the victim, himself or herself, and the community. The
people most affected by a particular offense are the key players in determining the means of repairing the harm
with the intention to make things as right as possible.
The potency of this process lies in holding an offender accountable in a very personal manner. Because of that,
both the victim and the offender are able to maintain a sense of dignity and power. In turn, this can decrease
the victim’s fear of re-victimization, lower the rate of recidivism, and in general restore a sense of harmony to
the community.
Restorative Justice benefits the community by promoting community safety and service through strengthening
community connections, giving community members a voice in their justice system, and repairing the harms caused
by crime.
