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"The plan the young offender had to follow was far more thorough than any probation of jail time he would have received. Nice work."

--Law Enforcement Officer

"What was most meaningful was getting to tell my story and my experience to the young offender directly. I felt involved in a healing process rather than a process that was merely punitive."

--Crime Victim

"All the hate was gone after we talked."

--Juvenile Offender

I thought it good fortune to go to the Magic Monastery for Christmas. But at the foot of the cliff sat a blind beggar. I heard him ask, "Who will lead me into the heart of God?"

I sat down in front of him. I took his hands. "Together," I said, "Together we'll go into the heart of God."

--Theophane the Monk

Restorative Justice is a process to involve, to the extent possible, those who have a stake in a specific offense and to collectively identify and address harms, needs and obligations, in order to heal and put things as right as possible.

--Howard Zehr

What is Restorative Justice?*

Rather than focussing on punishing the guilty party, restorative justice emphasizes repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior. It is best accomplished through cooperative processes that include all stakeholders.

Restorative processes respond to crime by:

1. Identifying and taking steps to repair harm,  
2. Involving all stakeholders, and
3. Transforming the traditional relationship between communities and their governments in responding to crime.

Restorative justice is founded on principles including:

1. Justice requires that we work with those who have been injured to help restore a sense of well-being, safety, and community.
2. Those most directly involved and affected by crime should have the opportunity to participate fully in the response to the crime.
3. Those who have harmed others have incurred obligations to make things right, or as right as possible.
4. The community benefits by participating in restorative actions.

Restorative programs are characterized by four key values:

1. Encounter:  Create opportunities for victims, offenders and community members to meet to discuss the crime and its aftermath.
2. Amends:  Expect offenders to take steps to repair, to the extent possible, the harm they have caused.
3. Reintegration:  Seek to restore victims and offenders to whole members of society who contribute in positive ways.
4. Inclusion:  Provide opportunities for parties with a stake in a specific crime to participate in its resolution. This includes victims, offenders, their family members, law enforcement and other community members.

*This definition is adapted from one available at RestorativeJustice.org.