RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: WHY DO WE NEED IT?

Overview of Violent Crime and Police Reporting

  • More than half of victims of violent crime do not report the incidents to the police.
  • Victims prefer non-intervention over current law enforcement options.

Pain of Crime Survivors

  • The vast majority of crime survivors do not receive healing or closure.
  • Restorative justice offers alternative solutions for dealing with crime and victimization.

Punishment vs. Restorative Justice

  • The current system is primarily focused on punishment rather than healing or accountability.
  • Punishment is characterized as passive, avoiding the need for reflection or change among offenders.
  • Incarceration absolves offenders from confronting the consequences of their actions.
    • This leads to a lack of personal responsibility for victims' harms.

Accountability through Restorative Justice

  • Restorative justice introduces a process aimed at holding offenders accountable while meeting victims' needs.
    • Key elements of restorative justice:
    • It acts as a tool for engagement among victims, offenders, and community members.
    • Involves answering vital questions:
      • What happened?
      • What needs have arisen?
      • Whose responsibility is it to meet these needs?
      • How can the offender contribute to reparative actions?
    • Focus is on restoring balance and preventing future offenses.

Actions for Offenders

  • Genuine accountability through restorative justice entails substantive actions, including:
    • Education (e.g., going to school)
    • Employment (e.g., getting a job)
    • Financial restitution (e.g., paying compensation to victims)
    • Apologies (expressing remorse)
    • Community service (contributing to society positively)

Range of Restorative Justice Practices

  • Restorative justice can be applied to a spectrum of offenses, from minor infractions like vandalism to serious crimes such as murder.
  • Central aim is to address the needs of those who have been harmed, focusing on their recovery and healing process.

Role of Offenders in Healing

  • Sometimes, the person responsible for a crime can contribute significantly to the healing of the victim.
  • An essential aspect of healing is understanding the impact of the crime through dialogue, addressing the victim's feelings and experience:
    • Example statement from a victim: "My life was never the same after you hurt me like that."

Ineffectiveness of Incarceration

  • The claim is made that if incarceration truly increased safety, society would see a drastic reduction in crime rates.
  • Current societal conditions suggest otherwise, highlighting ongoing systemic issues caused by incarceration:
    • Incarceration often exacerbates underlying problems such as:
    • Shame
    • Isolation
    • Economic hardships
    • Exposure to violent environments
  • Prisons perpetuate conditions that foster further violence instead of rehabilitation.

Healing for Victims and Accountability for Offenders

  • A clear argument is made that victims of crimes deserve processes that enable their healing and satisfaction.
  • Offenders have a moral obligation to be responsible for their actions and to contribute positively to victim recovery and community safety.
  • Society at large deserves crime response mechanisms that enhance overall safety and well-being.
  • The current criminal justice system is criticized for failing to deliver meaningful outcomes in terms of safety, healing, and accountability.
  • Restorative justice is positioned as a viable alternative that has the potential to meet all necessary needs effectively.