Restorative Justice

Definitions for Restorative Justice

Written by men and women incarcerated in Pennsylvania

1. Restorative justice looks at who has been hurt by a crime and how their needs can be met.
2. Restorative justice is the attempt to replace what was taken. Be it concrete or abstract. Restorative justice is a healing balm for victim, offender, community and family.
3. Restorative justice means recognizing and accepting one's responsibility for the destruction of human relationships and making concrete efforts to repair and promote healing.
4. A chance to try and repair the harm. A chance to improve upon one-self.
5. Restorative justice is healing broken relationships and abuses by people, for people.
6. The willingness to openly commit yourself to admitting your wrongs and facing those you wronged.
7. Restorative justice is the act or philosophy of bringing victim and offender together in order to humanize the process of justice and satisfy the hurts or violation experienced by the victim.
8. Building back our communities with those who made mistakes, healing all those harmed - building instead of blaming.
9. It puts victim and offender first. It tries to right the wrong and restore relationships.
10. An approach to justice through which the needs and concerns of the victim, offender, and community are addressed.
11. "Making it right" without harming those involved.
12. Restorative justice brings all parties together to work at a way to right the wrong and provides a venue for victims and offenders to be heard.
13. Restorative justice addresses the healing of both the victim and offender. Also, it's a process by which the offender can be reintegrated into the community.
14. Working toward bringing victim/offender and community to a sense of repair for the future. Work toward repairing harms done and making right for all parties.
15. The ability of the victims, offender and community to interact and seek solution to preventing future occurrences. Accepting responsibility for role in offense and all parties being accountable.
16. Restorative justice is the process where the victim, offender and community define the justice process. Restorative justice brings about the healing of the community, victim and offender when a crime occurs.