What is Restorative Justice?

Restorative Justice is an alternative way of thinking about and working with crime and criminal justice. It views crime as not only an infringement against the state, but a violation of the victim and the community. That is, the offenders become accountable not only to the state, but the victims, family, and the community as a whole. Restorative Justice encourages the offenders to take responsibility for their actions and helps them to repair the harm they have caused to the victim and to the community.