What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative justice is a community-based response to a specific offense or incident. Those who have a stake in a particular incident (the youth respondent, people impacted by their behavior, and members of the community) work to collectively identify and address harms, needs, and obligations in order to move forward. With origins in many indigenous communities, restorative justice operates on the notion that healing and accountability--rather than punitive discipline or exclusion--form the path to justice.
For more information, visit: The International Institute for Restorative Practices
Where does it come from?
Although the term Restorative Justice was not coined until the 1980s/90s, the practice of including the victims and community within the process of seeking justice dates farther back and has origins within Native and ancient cultures. For example, Indigenous communities used/use restorative practices to not only resolve conflicts, but to bring healing to those affected. Some of these practices are now used adjacent to the criminal justice system as an effective way to incorporate the voices of those affected by the conflicts and to generate community healing.
Restorative justice is a community-based response to a specific offense or incident. Those who have a stake in a particular incident (the youth respondent, people impacted by their behavior, and members of the community) work to collectively identify and address harms, needs, and obligations in order to move forward. With origins in many indigenous communities, restorative justice operates on the notion that healing and accountability--rather than punitive discipline or exclusion--form the path to justice.
For more information, visit: The International Institute for Restorative Practices
Where does it come from?
Although the term Restorative Justice was not coined until the 1980s/90s, the practice of including the victims and community within the process of seeking justice dates farther back and has origins within Native and ancient cultures. For example, Indigenous communities used/use restorative practices to not only resolve conflicts, but to bring healing to those affected. Some of these practices are now used adjacent to the criminal justice system as an effective way to incorporate the voices of those affected by the conflicts and to generate community healing.