Restorative justice provides a very different framework for understanding and responding to crime.  Crime is understood as harm to individuals and communities, rather than simply a violation of abstract laws against the state. Those most directly affected by crime -- victims, community members and offenders -- are therefore encouraged to play an active role in the justice process. Rather than the current focus on offender punishment, restoration of the emotional and material losses resulting from crime is far more important. Mark Umbreit

"Avoiding the Marginalization and 'McDonaldization' of Victim-Offender mediation: A Case Study in Moving Toward the Mainstream" in Restorative Juvenile Justice: Repairing the Harm of Youth Crime, edited by Gordon Bazemore and Lode Walgrave.  Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press. 1999. p 213

 

Information for Victims, Survivors, Offenders, and Communities

Victims/Survivors: Many survivors have expressed a sense of empowerment after taking part in restorative justice approaches such as victim offender mediation (VOM), community conferencing, and open dialogues (such as a victim panel). Because crime does not only affect the person that was directly impacted by the crime, family members and friends of victims are also invited to take part in the restorative justice process.

Offenders: Offenders who have committed a crime and who take full responsibility for committing the crime have found that the restorative justice approach assists them in taking meaningful steps towards understanding and acknowledging the impact that they have had on the lives of those around them, including the victims, survivors, family members, and the community.

Community: The community consists of people who may have a vested interest in avoiding a similar crime from occurring; those that feel that there may be another more effective way to deal with crime; and those people who were emotionally affected by the crime itself.

RJR provides professional support staff to guide the healing process for survivors, offenders, and communities by supporting a direct and/or indirect dialogue about the impact of the crime.  We provide services that enable the victims to feel empowered and not re-offended, while at the same time assisting offenders in the process of taking full responsibility for their actions.