Restorative Justice: Processes for Creating Right Relationship After a Crime

1. Restorative Justice: Processes for Creating Right Relationship After a Crime Compiled by Rhonda Pfaltzgraff-Carlson

2. Restorative Justice Who has been hurt? What are their needs? Whose obligations are these? Different Approaches/Questions Criminal Justice • What laws have been broken? • Who did it? • What do they deserve? Zehr, Howard (2002) The Little Book of Restorative Justice. Intercourse, PA: Good Books.

3. Restorative Justice Crime is a violation of people and relationships Violations create obligations Justice involves victims, offenders, and community members' efforts to make things right again Central Focus: Victims' needs and offenders' responsibility for repairing the harm done to them. Contrasting Views Criminal Justice • Crime is a violation of the law and the state • Violations create guilt • Justice requires the state to determine blame (guilt) and impose pain (punishment) • Central Focus: Offenders getting what they deserve. Zehr, Howard (2002) The Little Book of Restorative Justice. Intercourse, PA: Good Books.

4. Restorative Justice Principles • Crime is a violation of people and of interpersonal relationships • Violations create obligations • The central obligation is to right the wrongs Zehr, Howard (2002) The Little Book of Restorative Justice. Intercourse, PA: Good Books.

5. 3 Pillars of Restorative Justice • Obligations Addresses the obligations that have arisen from the harm done (primarily the offenders but also the communities') • Harms and Needs Focuses primarily on the victim's harm and related needs, but also those of the community and offenders • Engagement Inclusive collaborative processes allow for engagement among those who have a stake in the offense and its resolution Zehr, Howard (2002) The Little Book of Restorative Justice. Intercourse, PA: Good Books.

6. Core Aspects of Practices • Encounter between key stakeholders • Preference for face-to-face meetings • Led by facilitators who oversee and guide the process while balancing concern for all parties • Explore facts, feelings and resolution Zehr, Howard (2002) The Little Book of Restorative Justice. Intercourse, PA: Good Books.

7. Community Restorative Justice Practices Levels of Restorative Practice1) Individually Restorative 2) Relationally Restorative 3) Socially Restorative Restorative Values 1 VICTIM NEEDS (Community of Care) • Victim Services • Compensation funds • Support Groups OFFENDER FAMILY NEEDS • Family Services • Support Groups • Transportation and Visitation Services 1 2 Face-to-Face Meetings; Peer Support Circles; Family Group Conferencing Family Group Decision Making; Transitional Conferencing 3 • Victim-Offender Conferencing; • Dialogue Groups; • Circles of Support & Accountability 2 2 OFFENDER NEEDS (Accountability & Healing) • Reentry Assistance • Offender Services • Support Groups 1 Toews, Barb (2006) The Little Book of Restorative Justice for People in Prison: Rebuilding the Web of Relationships. Intercourse, PA: Good Books.

8. Points of Contact: Restorative Justice Programs w/ Criminal Justice System Crime Report & Arrest Charge Community Conferencing/ Youth Programs Plea Diversion Post Plea Sentencing V-O Mediation: Incarceration Aboriginal Justice Programs Circles of Support & Accountability Prison Visitation Programs Healing/Restoration Punishment/Retribution Separation from Community Reintegration into Community