NCJ Number
126461
Date Published
1990
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Restorative justice, which is rarely practiced by the current criminal justice system, would enable crime victims, offenders, and the community to collaborate with government in repairing the injuries caused by crime.
Abstract
The elements of restorative justice are a definition of crime as injury, action to repair such injuries, and a commitment to include all affected parties in the response to the crime. Restorative justice can be implemented by creating a two-track justice process: a formal process administered by government and an informal community-based process. Although each of these two processes would play its own role, the overarching purpose of both processes would be to counteract the injuries, losses, and damage caused by the crime. The formal process administered by government would ensure that restraint, accountability, and reparation are secured. The informal, community-based process would focus on serving victims (emotionally and physically) and help offenders to make amends and correct themselves. A workable model of restorative justice must address who the parties are, what their relative relationships are, what the desired outcome is, and what kind of process is needed. 18 references (Author abstract modified)