Restorative justice relates to an approach used to respond to a crime or any other form of conflict, injustice, or wrongful act, which centers essentially on restoring the damage triggered by an offense and reinstating the involved parties’ well-being. This strategy focuses primarily on the relational justice theory due to the emphasis on restoring dignity, equality, and respect to relationships impacted by a wrongful action (Gumz & Grant, 2018). There are three fundamental principles associated with this specific methodology. First, unlawful acts trigger suffering or damage, and justice aims to restore or repair the harm caused by crime. Justice is expected to provide healing to the offenders, victims, and communities after a criminal incident. This can be done through face-to-face meetings or any other appropriate alternative form. Restorative justice provides the platform for the involved and affected individuals to forgive and reconcile with each other.
Second, people considered to be highly affected by the criminal act should engage in the resolution procedure. The aggrieved party typically assumes a defining and directing role concerning how the process advances or unfolds (Gumz & Grant, 2018). This principle aims to minimize risks by ensuring that the citizens and community are protected; it emphasizes prospective harm prevention. Third, the government is responsible for maintaining order, while the community should employ approaches that aim to build peace. This principle underscores the need for the government to uphold its duties during the restoration process. It also highlights society’s transformation by empowering them to assume an active role in the crime’s restorative response. Stakeholders, including the justice system personnel, offenders, and victims, must also handle the consequence, impact, and reparation collectively.
References
Gumz, E. J., Grant, C. L. (2018). Restorative justice: A systematic review of the social work literature. Families in Society, 90(1), 119-126. Web.