Restorative Justice
There are many definitions of Restorative Justice, and it can appear in many forms. Generally, Restorative Justice is a theory of addressing harms, both in a criminal and community context. Communities can use Restorative Justice in various scenarios to address harm. When using Restorative Justice to address crime, the idea is that we can hold offenders accountable without defaulting to traditional punishment. Restorative Justice empowers victims of harm by giving them a voice in the process, and often times, a say in the outcome of their case. The following informational video by Brave New Films describes Restorative Justice’s application to crimes.
What is Restorative Justice?
In November 2023, the West Virginia Restorative Justice Project recognized Restorative Justice Week with a webinar: Restorative Justice: What West Virginia is Talking About! In preparation for the webinar, the advisory board collaborated on this short video: What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice Processes
While learning more about Restorative Justice, you may come across different terms to describe Restorative Justice processes. Two general, common terms are “Circles” and “Conferences.” Click below to see an example of each.
Circles provide a larger group the opportunity to discuss harm, resolve conflict, or address difficult topics. The circle will include those who were impacted by the harm or conflict.
After thorough and proper preparation with a team of professionals, a victim and an offender have the opportunity to work together to address harm and move toward healing.