Restorative justice is based on the fact that crime causes harm. What is justice, then? It’s healing the harm. Restorative justice states that those most affected by the crime – including the offenders and the victims – should participate in the healing. This stands in contrast to most methods of justice, which tend to focus on punishment and retribution. Restorative justice can (and has been) implemented into existing structures. It’s had positive results. A study in 2007 found that restorative justice programs have both the highest rate of victim satisfaction and offender accountability of any justice method. Here are five examples of this concept in practice:

Victim assistance

Victim assistance, as the name implies, focuses on the victims and survivors of crime. These programs provide services that address a variety of concerns. That includes navigating the criminal justice process and emotional recovery. There are two main focuses: the legal rights of victims and the personal crises that result from a crime. Victims’ rights advocates are there to offer legal representation, supporting survivors through the complex and stressful criminal justice system. With their knowledge and experience, advocates work on behalf of victims who most likely do not understand the nitty-gritty of the system.