Restorative Justice is a set of principles which are applied to various types of programs.
The following programs fall within what is described as restorative responses to crime. They focus on identifying and working to repair the harm caused by crime.
They also actively engage the victim, offender and the community in the justice process.
When victim, offender and community representatives encounter one another and learn more about each other and their situations, there is potential for relationships to be established or restored.
It is in this relational context that people are held accountable and take
responsibility for their acts and begin to repair the harm and broken relationships.
Neighborhood watch: Neighbors are organized and trained to reduce
crime in their community by watching out for neighbors who are away
from home so that their property is not stolen or vandalized. This
includes watching for and reporting to authorities when something
unusual activities or noises in the area, i.e. Persons or vehicles not
from the area, particularly at late or unusual hours.
Community policing: Establishing offices in the community where the
assigned officers are readily available to the public, not just when
there is trouble. It is an opportunity for the residents to meet and
come to know the officers personally. It is also an opportunity for
the officers to meet and know the residents that they work to serve
and protect.
Neighborhood dispute resolution centers: Community volunteers trained
as mediators serve to mediate and resolve the wide variety of disputes
common to any community where people live and work together. The early
intervention and resolution of disagreements can prevent problems from
escalating to something more serious. One of the obvious benefits is
that good mediation not only reduces problems but also establishes
strong ties and friendships in place of anger and mistrust.
Youth accountability boards: Trained and supervised community may hear
and dispose of the cases of youths referred by the justice system for
a variety of minor offenses. The board reviews the facts of each case,
hear from the victim and their family, and hear from the offender and
their family. Receive school reports and hear from witnesses and
interested parties. The board imposes a disposition that may require
the minor to accept responsibility for their behavior, apologize to
the victim, make restitution, perform community service, and attend
school and work. The board monitors the disposition and often acts in
the role of a mentor. A final report is filed with the referring
agency when the case is completed or when a violation occurs.
Community reparation boards: These boards are similar to youth
accountability boards, but they work with both youth and adult
offenders.
Community courts or sentencing councils: Trained and supervised
community volunteers hear the cases of offenders referred by the
justice system. They review case reports, hear from victims,
offenders, witnesses, and interested parties to gather information
about the offense and the offender. Then the court renders a
disposition that is designed to repair the harm caused by crime to the
victim, community, offender and their families. In most cases there is
a concurrence with the disposition by all the parties involved. The
court of jurisdiction may ratify the disposition. The members of the
community court also serve to monitor the completion of all the terms
of the disposition and report the final disposition or any violations
to the referring agency.
Peer courts: These are informal courts that are conducted by trained
and supervised youth. They hear the matters of juvenile who have been
referred for a variety of minor violations of law or school rules and
regulations. The members of the court are usually from the same school
or neighborhood and may know each other. They hear the facts of each
case and render disposition from a prescribed set of alternatives.
Victim offender reconciliation programs: Programs, frequently church
based use trained community volunteers to hear cases referred by
justice agencies, where both the victim and the offender volunteer to
participate. Trained mediators prepare each party for the opportunity
to meet each other face to face. Families and friends from both
parties may be included as appropriate. It is an opportunity for the
victim to meet the offender, tell them of the harm done and ask some
basic questions about the offense. For the offender it is an
opportunity to learn how they have harmed another person and their
family. It is also a time for the offender to take responsibility for
their acts, apologize and make restitution for what they have done.
The mediator facilitates a disposition of the matter that all the
parties agree to. Then the mediator monitors the completion of the
settlement and reports the outcome to the referring agency.
Victim impact classes: These programs are similar to vorp, but the
only link between victims and offenders are common types of crimes.
This process can be helpful to both the victim and the offender.
Neighbors who care: Faith based programs of trained church volunteers
who in cooperation wit the justice system, provide immediate relief
and support to victims of crime. In many situations the identity of
the offender is never discovered. Volunteers provide companionship,
sympathy, understanding and links to available resources, i.e. Food,
and lodging, house cleaning, medical care.
