Restorative justice
Restorative Justice
Restorative justice (pronunciation: /rɪˈstɔːrətɪv ˈdʒʌstɪs/) is a theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior. It is best accomplished through cooperative processes that include all stakeholders.
Etymology
The term "restorative justice" is derived from the Latin word "restaurare" which means to restore, and the Old French word "justice" which means righteousness or fairness.
Definition
Restorative justice is a process where all the parties with a stake in a particular offense come together to resolve collectively how to deal with the aftermath of the offense and its implications for the future. It is a different approach to justice that focuses on the needs of the victims, the offenders, and the involved community, instead of satisfying abstract legal principles or punishing the offender.
Principles
Restorative justice is guided by principles such as:
- Repair: Restorative justice recognizes that crime causes harm and justice requires repairing that harm.
- Involvement: The best way to determine how to do that is to have the parties decide together.
- Transformation: This can lead to transformation of people, relationships, and communities.
Related Terms
- Victim-offender mediation: A process that brings together victims and offenders of a crime to discuss the event, its impact, and steps for repair.
- Community conferencing: A method of dealing with crime by bringing together victims, offenders, and community members.
- Restitution: The act of giving back to the victim or community what was lost in the crime.
- Reconciliation: The process of making consistent or compatible the relationship between the victim and the offender.
See Also
This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.