What is the difference between Restorative Justice and our traditional legal system?
Traditionally when a crime is committed, the justice system has been primarily concerned with three questions:

1- Who did it?
2- What laws were broken?
3- What should be done to punish or treat the offender?
This type of approach is considered retributive, where the intent is to get retribution or punishment for an offense committed.

Restorative Justice programs emphasize different questions:

1- Who has been harmed?
2- What is the nature of the harm resulting from the crime?
3- What needs to be done to "make it right" or repair the harm?
4- Who is responsible for this repair?
The intent is to restore the victim and community affected by the crime as close as possible to pre-crime conditions.

Show All Answers

1. What is Restorative Justice?
2. What is the difference between Restorative Justice and our traditional legal system?
3. Why is it called Restorative Justice? Who Is being restored?
4. How widespread is Restorative Justice?
5. How effective are Restorative Justice processes?
6. Can Restorative Justice be used in serious cases?
7. Is Restorative Justice "soft on crime"?
8. Isn't it simpler just to go to court?
9. What if the victim does not want to participate in a Restorative Justice process?
10. Is Restorative Justice appropriate for "victimless" crimes?
11. How is "community" defined for the purposes of Restorative Justice?
12. Do lawyers participate?
13. What are some CJC Restorative Justice programs?
14. Do victims have to participate?
15. What is expected of victims?
16. What kinds of things are appropriate to ask for to “repair harm”?