Restorative Justice
Now a central philosophy of St. Leonard's Community Services London Region, Restorative Justice is an initiative that:
- Holds offenders accountable for actions and helps them empathize with victims
- Helps offenders maintain ties to the community
- Offers a positive alternative to tradition punishment
Victim's needs, questions and fears are the most important aspect of Restorative Justice. A willing victim can meet with the accused and participate in the justice process.
The accused also participates willingly after accepting responsibility for harm done and expressing a willingness to make amends. The accused is treated as one who has made a mistake and is willing to repair harm done to both the victim and community.
Program Specifics of Restorative Justice
- Abilities and needs determine the compensation (reparation) provided by the accused
- Reparation can include apologies, restitution, community service, counseling
- Victims, the accused and community volunteers determine the appropriate reparations in relation to the offence severity
- Victims require a voice and need for security while the accused need the chance for truth sharing and an opportunity for "restoration"
- People's needs and rights are to be understood in their fullest context (moral, cultural, social, economic, political) and not simply defined in technical or legal terms
Restorative Justice Programs Include:
- Family Group Conferencing
- Peace Making Circles
- Justice Committees
- Justice Circles
- Sentencing Circles
- Victim/Offender Conferences (V.O.C.)
- Transitional Programs
- Circles of Support
What Restorative Justice is Not
- Mediation/Intervention
- Intended for minor of first-time offenders
- A new or North American development
- A replacement to the Criminal Justice System
- Designed to reduce repeating offences
