What Is Restorative Justice?

Whether you are a victim or a perpetrator of an offense, restorative justice can be used to help resolve the situation. This process is designed to reduce the trauma caused by the incident and to help the victims and the perpetrators move on.

Community-based vs family-based

Unlike restorative justice, community-based approaches are not based on a specific theory of crime. Instead, they focus on addressing problems as they arise. This type of approach is often used in cases involving serious violent assaults or sexual assaults. The goal of the approach is to help offenders work towards a reparative outcome.

One of the most promising restorative approaches is the New Zealand model of Family Group Conferences. This method involves a meeting between family members, social workers, and justice professionals to consider the needs of both the offender and victim. The panel then decides on a sanction that is appropriate.

Community-based approaches also rely on a local community response. In this model, local police coordinate the process, but do not control the outcome. Instead, community members who have a direct stake in the outcome are empowered to provide concrete reparations and ameliorative solutions.

The restorative approach is also more likely to engage service users. Aside from a focus on solving a problem, restorative approaches involve building relationships. This is usually done by meeting family members individually, sharing positive comments about family life with parents, and asking for their permission before meeting.

Making an agreement that meets everyone's needs

Creating an agreement that meets everyone's needs is important in restorative justice. This can be achieved through a variety of techniques. It may include the use of a surrogate or a circle process.

A circle process is a facilitated dialogue whereby two or more parties sit in a circle. The circle is a symbol of unity and cooperation. Usually, a circle does not specifically mention the victim. The purpose is to identify individuals who have been harmed by the offender and find solutions to repair the damage.

The restorative justice industry has many different innovations. It ranges from innovations within the juvenile justice system to international peacemaking tribunals. It also includes innovations within the criminal justice system.

The restorative justice process is a complex undertaking. It may involve meeting with the offender, the victim, or both. It may involve a formal meeting between the two parties or a conference that includes other community members. It may involve compensation or education to prevent recidivism.

Facilitator's role

During restorative justice, the facilitator plays a crucial role. This role provides an opportunity for people affected by crime to talk about the problems they are facing and to make plans to repair harm.

Good facilitators must have a deep belief in restorative practices. They should also be able to respond intuitively to participant needs. Using these three attributes, restorative justice facilitators are able to support participants to overcome communication barriers and make plans for redress.

Restorative practice facilitated dialogue brings together harmed individuals and the community to repair harm. The process is voluntary and the parties are encouraged to honor the process, even during difficult discussions.

A restorative justice facilitator is trained to facilitate a process that focuses on the interests of both victims and offenders. The facilitator conducts a series of meetings with each party separately. This allows the parties to speak about the harms they have caused, apologies, and proposals for reparation.

The Restorative Justice Service in Staffordshire works with victims of crime and their families to help them recover from the harms of crime. It also provides information and emotional support.

Impact on victims

Whether or not restorative justice programs work is often a question of whether or not they are able to meet the needs of victims. In fact, if the program fails to meet the needs of victims, it may have the opposite effect, making victims feel further harmed by the offenders.

Many restorative justice practitioners have entered highly visible cases without first consulting victim services personnel or collaborating with victims. Several factors lead to these negative reactions, including the lack of adequate victim services and the marginalization of victims in conventional justice processes.

To avoid the negative consequences of restorative justice programs, restorative justice advocates must take the lead in building and maintaining a dialogue with victims. They should also engage in national and state-wide dialogues and support local listening initiatives.

Restorative justice programs must provide victims with the necessary information and complete information about the process and possible outcomes. They also need to encourage victim involvement in the process, as well as the involvement of family members.