Benefits of Restorative Justice

To the victim:

• Involvement in the justice process
• Opportunity to tell their story, to be heard and understood.
• Opportunity to ask questions about the crime, such as: Was I targeted?, Will it happen again?, Am I safe?
• Able to express anger and pain directly to person(s) responsible
• Put a face to the offender
• Decrease level of fear by personalizing the offender

To the offender:

• Is held accountable by facing their victims
• See the human cost of his/her actions
• Has opportunity to have a say in making things right
• Has opportunity to develop empathy and responsibility
• Improved relationships with community members

To the community:

• Stronger connections between people
• Community building as members take part in conferences as mediators or participants
• Opportunity to be involved in problem solving instead of relying on the state for solutions
• Long-term health of the community is strengthened
• Decreased fear of crime
• Active involvement in justice process is empowering