What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice is an alternative approach to responding to harm and conflict. It looks at how to repair the harm caused by unjust behavior. It considers the needs of victims and communities when something unfair has happened. Restorative Justice is a way to look at how to make things right - some people see it as an alternative to taking an “eye for an eye.”
In Restorative Justice, the offender – the person who has caused harm – is asked to play a part in healing or repairing that harm. They are asked to help make it right. Many countries are currently using restorative justice as an alternative to incarceration; for example, a young person who vandalizes a store front may agree to repair the store and volunteer to work at the store until the costs of the damage are paid off. This would benefit the store owner, avoid the cost of incarceration, and provide an opportunity for the young person. This is an example of restorative justice (RJ).
Restorative Justice is an alternative approach to responding to harm and conflict. It looks at how to repair the harm caused by unjust behavior. It considers the needs of victims and communities when something unfair has happened. Restorative Justice is a way to look at how to make things right - some people see it as an alternative to taking an “eye for an eye.”
In Restorative Justice, the offender – the person who has caused harm – is asked to play a part in healing or repairing that harm. They are asked to help make it right. Many countries are currently using restorative justice as an alternative to incarceration; for example, a young person who vandalizes a store front may agree to repair the store and volunteer to work at the store until the costs of the damage are paid off. This would benefit the store owner, avoid the cost of incarceration, and provide an opportunity for the young person. This is an example of restorative justice (RJ).