Restorative Justice

Question 1

Restorative justice

Answer 1

• A system for dealing with offender behaviour
• Focuses on rehabilitation through reconciliation with victims/survivors
• Enables the offender to see the impact of their crime & empowers survivors

Question 2

What does restorative justice focus on

Answer 2

Needs of individuals who committed crimes
1. Victim of the crime & their recovery
2. Offender & recovery

Less on retribution
More on reparation

Question 3

Function of the restorative justice council

Answer 3

• independent body set to clear standards for the use of RJ
• to support survivors

• RJC advocates the use of restorative practice beyond dealing with crime

Question 4

Key features in RJ

Answer 4

• trained mediator
• non courtroom setting
• offender meets voluntary survivor
• survivor tells offender how they were affected
• allows offender to comprehend consequences
• active involvement of both parties
• relevant community members may also be involved

Question 5

Sentencing & restitution

Answer 5

• may occur pretrial
• offenders involvement is considered when sentences
• may occur alongside a prison sentence or during

Restitution- monetary payment by offender to survivor
• financial payment to reflect psychological damage

Question 6

Strength
- supports survivor needs

Answer 6

• RJC reported 85% survivors stated they were satisfied with the process
• 78% would recommend, 60% made them feel better, 2% made them feel worse

Question 7

Strength
- leads to a decrease in offending

Answer 7

• meta analysis fund offenders who experience RJ less likely to reoffend
• larger decrease in violent crime than property crime
• lower reductionism w adult offenders who had 1-1 contact w the survivor

Question 8

Limitation
- offenders my abuse the system

Answer 8

• hinges on an offenders genuinely feeling regret
• offenders my use restorative justice to avoid punishment, play down their faults/ take pride in their relationship w survivor