Restorative Justice

Question 1

What is restorative justice?

Answer 1

A different way of thinking
Focusses on the harm caused by crime
Requires offenders to take responsibility
It seeks redress for victims and recompense offenders and reintegration of both within the community

Question 2

How is restorative justice different from what we do now ?

Answer 2

It views criminal acts more comprehensively
It involves more parties
It measures success differently
Recognizes the importance of community involvement and initiative

Question 3

How does restorative justice respond to crime?

Answer 3

It emphasizes victim recovery
It emphasizes recompense by the offender
It establishes processes through which parties are able to discover the truth, to identify injustices and agree on future actions to address those harms

Question 4

How does restorative justice seek to prevent crime?

Answer 4

It builds on the strengths of community and the government
I emphasizes the need to repair past harms
It seeks to reconcile offenders
It helps the communities learn to reintegrate victims and offenders

Question 5

What is the philosophy of Restorative Justice?

Answer 5

Restorative justice philosophy represents a very different lens to view, understand and respond to crime and victimization.

Question 6

Two ways courts and Restorative Justice are different

Answer 6

Answers may vary
Example:
• C: Crime is against the state
R: Crime is against the person and community

• C: Victim ignored, Offender passive
R: Victim and offenders roles recognized. Victim’s rights and needs recognized, offender encouraged to take responsibility