JRP - What is Restorative Justice?

What is Restorative Justice?

JRP is often asked, what is restorative justice? While definitions of restorative justice continue to evolve, the following two sets of principles, presented during a 1993 conference at Fresno Pacific College in California, provide a strong foundation for defining restorative justice. They were developed by Dan Van Ness of Prison Fellowship International and Howard Zehr of Easter Mennonite University, two of the leading and most important voices in the field of restorative justice.

Restorative Justice: Talking Points

Restorative Justice:

Recognizes that crime is a violation of people and relationships.
Recognizes that such a violation creates an obligation to make things right.
Requires a process that maximizes the exchange of information between the offender and the victim.
Empowers all involved to participate in the process of reconciliation, restitution and healing.

Restorative Justice: Guidelines

The following guidelines illustrate the direction which restorative justice reforms should take:

Restorative justice processes are more likely to involve the victim, the offender and the community as meaningful participants than to limit participation to the government as the sole active party.
Restorative justice processes are more likely to hold offenders accountable for their actions by stressing reparation to the victim and not simply punishment.
Restorative justice processes are more likely to emphasize the responsibilities of each party to make things right."
Restorative justice processes are more likely to be considered complete when victims and offenders are reintegrated in their communities rather than when legal obligations alone are met.