Restorative Justice Crim 215 winter2025
Page 1: Introduction to Restorative Justice Practices
Course: Crim 215
Date: March 2025
Page 2: Criminal vs. Restorative Justice
Participation:
Criminal Justice: Restricted, primarily reliant on experts.
Restorative Justice: Inclusive, primarily reliant on community.
Decision Making:
Criminal Justice: Adversarial.
Restorative Justice: Consensus.
Issues Focus:
Criminal Justice: Broken laws.
Restorative Justice: Broken relationships.
Focus:
Criminal Justice: Past conduct & Individual responsibility.
Restorative Justice: Past, present, future conduct & Individual/collective responsibility.
Tools:
Criminal Justice: Banishment, Punishment, Coercion.
Restorative Justice: Reintegration, Healing/support, Trust/understanding.
Procedure:
Criminal Justice: Fixed rules.
Restorative Justice: Flexible guidelines.
Results:
Criminal Justice: Winners/losers.
Restorative Justice: Finding common ground to maximize all interests.
Page 3: Types and Degrees of Restorative Justice Practice
Key Components:
Victim: Reparation, Support, Services, Sensitivity Training.
Community: Circles, Conferencing, Peace initiatives, and Youth Aid Panels.
Offenders: Family involvement, Accountability, Reparative Boards.
Degrees: Full, Mostly, and Partly Restorative practices.
Page 4: Conceptualizing Restorative Justice
Not merely a program; a philosophical framework.
A new way of responding to crime in communities and criminal justice systems.
Page 5: Traditional Questions vs. Restorative Justice Perspective
Traditional:
Who committed the crime?
What laws were broken?
How will we punish the offender?
Restorative Justice aims to view crime through a different lens.
Page 6: Van Ness Principles
Crime as more than lawbreaking necessitates healing for all affected parties.
Page 7: Van Ness Principles (Continued)
Active involvement of victims, communities, and offenders should be maximized in the justice process.
Page 8: Van Ness Principles (Continued)
Rethink the roles of government vs. community in maintaining order and peace.
Page 9: Howard Zehr’s Questions
Key Aspects to Consider:
What is the harm?
What needs to be repaired?
Who is responsible for the repair?
Page 10: Howard Zehr’s Framework
Assessment: Determine the harm.
Case Plan: Identify what needs to be done for repair.
Roles: Clarify who is responsible for the repair.
Page 11: Barry Stuart’s Perspective
Emphasizes the need for broader systemic change beyond state-centric views on crime.
Page 12: What is the Balanced Approach?
A value framework and application of restorative justice in practical terms.
Serves as a blueprint for implementing restorative principles, especially in juvenile justice.
Page 13: Components of the Balanced Approach
Key Areas:
Community
Safety
Accountability
Competency
Development
Page 14: Understanding Accountability
Involves direct responsibility, amends, community involvement, and setting community standards without punishment.
Page 15: Importance of Competency
Valued skills enabling positive contribution and character strength among individuals, particularly youth.
Page 16: Enhancing Public Safety
Monitoring offenders, community engagement, strategic supervision, and partnerships are vital for effective crime prevention.
Page 17: Understanding Culture
Explore definitions, expressions, diversity, and personal identification with cultures within communities.
Page 18: Contributing Factors to Crime
Justice System, Socioeconomic Conditions, Family Dynamics, and Educational Systems all play roles.
Page 19: Weekly Journal Questions
Examine the impact of current practices on communities and explore restorative justice value changes.
Page 20: Needs and Wants of Victims
Recognition of trauma, expression of experiences, understanding the offender's perspective, and sincerity in apologies.
Page 21: Victims’ Voices
Desire to be heard, have needs met, participate in own healing and justice processes, and receive assistance and reparation.
Page 22: Victims' Aspirations
Input at all points of the justice system, involvement in offender repair decisions, and direct communication with offenders if desired.
Page 23: Responsibilities of Victims
Participation in justice processes, reporting violations, supporting legal changes, and engaging in community crime prevention.
Page 24: Physical Trauma from Crime
Common injuries: Bruises, broken bones, cuts, fatigue, stomach pains, etc.
Page 25: Emotional Impact of Crime
Range of feelings: Fear, anger, hopelessness, embarrassment, depression, etc.
Page 26: Psychological Effects
Symptoms such as paranoia, insomnia, isolation, outbursts of crying, and nightmares are common experiences post-crime.
Page 27: Financial Costs of Crime
Victims experience: Out-of-pocket expenses, loss of wages, insurance costs, medical expenses, etc.
Page 28: Values and Assumptions About Offenders
Offenders can contribute positively and can be rehabilitated through taking responsibility for their actions.
Page 29: New Roles for Offenders
Encouraged to take responsibility, engage with victims, and play an active role in repairing harm and contributing to the community.
Page 30: Community Definition
A group sharing common interests and values.
Page 31: Community of Place
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Crime affects localized populations significantly; safety perceptions closely linked to geographic area.
Page 32: Cycle of Fear
Weakened community fabric leads to isolation, distrust, and increased crime.
Page 33: Results of State Involvement
The formal justice process may disempower citizens and creates professionalized conflict resolution that isolates victims.
Page 34: Community Expectations
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Communities expect crime sanctioning, juvenile rehabilitation, and protection, which should inform restorative justice practices.
Page 35: Cycle of Hope
Stronger community relationships can foster crime prevention and a sense of hope among residents.
Page 36: Community Roles in Justice
Community involvement in policy development and accountability terms is crucial for rehabilitative processes.
Page 37: Stages of Community and Justice System Relationships
Moving from separation to collaboration, where the community guides justice practices and policies.