What is Restorative Justice?

Adapted from: A 2013 Safe Communities publication put out by the Alberta Government

Restorative justice allows victims, offenders and their respective family members and friends to come together to explore how everyone has been affected by an offense or conflict and, when possible, to decide how to repair the harm. Victims can say how the crime or conflict affected them and ask the offender questions.  Learning first-hand how they have hurt others often helps offenders to accept responsibility, while answering questions makes them accountable to those they have harmed.

When extended beyond a response to conflict and crime, restorative justice can be used proactively and is called restorative practice.

In the child protection system, extended families meet with a facilitator to make a plan to protect children in their own families from further violence and neglect, and to avoid removal from the family.

In schools, circles and groups provide opportunities for students to share their feelings, build relationships, and solve problems. When there are behaviour violations or conflicts, students play an active role in addressing the wrong and making things right.

With reintegration, community volunteers form circles of support to engage and equip people leaving prison and custody facilities to settle into community and find their meaningful place.

In the area of healing sexual abuse and trauma, we use support groups, education groups, workshops and facilitated dialogues to assist survivors, offenders, and their family members to understand, heal, and move forward.

CJI is part of an effort to make the Waterloo Region of Ontario a Restorative Practice Community. From the working group on Restorative Practice:  “Restorative Justice is an important aspect but only one part of restorative practice.  In a sense restorative justice lies at the roots of a broader vision of a peaceful and emotionally smart community.”