What is Restorative Justice?
Portland Community Justice Partnership offers restorative justice as a healing-centered alternative to the criminal justice system.
The Three Core Elements of Restorative Justice
Restorative justice is a philosophical framework for dealing with criminal offenses. This system is designed to shift focus away from punishment and towards repairing harm done. This framework recognizes that maintaining positive relationships with others is essential to our communities. It seeks to address the root causes of crime, even to the point of transforming unjust systems and structures.
Encounter
Encounter is the starting point, a facilitated meeting that brings together people most impacted by crime to determine how to repair harm. Encounters start with an invitation, and all parties participate voluntarily. There are three keys to effective encounters.
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Before offenders can participate, they must take responsibility for their wrong and want to make amends.
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All stakeholders impacted by the wrongdoing—victims, offenders, and community members—have a voice in the justice process.
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Meetings that are encounters occur in safe spaces, foster vulnerability, and include free sharing without judgment.
Repair
Because crime harms people and tears apart both relationships and communities, restorative justice seeks to repair harm from a broad perspective. Each stakeholder has unique needs that arise from crime. Repair addresses:
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The victim’s need for healing. Victims heal through the encounter and its outcomes.
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The offender’s need to make amends, as offenders must atone for wrongdoing and work to regain good standing in community. Encounters empower offenders to make amends directly to victims and potentially community members.
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The community’s need for relational health and safety. Family, friends, and others support victims and offenders as they heal and reintegrate into community.
Transform
Restorative encounters create spaces that lead to transformed individuals— victims and offenders – and pinpoint root causes of crime, even systemic and structural issues.
Once identified, these systemic issues can be faced, dealt with, and potentially changed to foster more just systems and healthier, safer communities.
Segment courtesy RestorativeJustice.org
Who is involved?
Victims are invited to participate in restorative justice and may opt out at any point before an agreement is reached.
Offenders may avoid criminal charges and jail time if and agreement is reached.
Communities are encouraged to hold its members accountable and heal.
The Justice System works with the the restorative justice system and the victim as needed.
