Question

main principles of restorative justice

Answer 1

The foundational principles of restorative justice have been summarized as follows:

1-Crime causes harm and justice should focus on repairing that harm.
2-The people most affected by the crime should be able to participate in its resolution.
3-The responsibility of the government is to maintain order and of the community to build peace.

Answer 2

Since the primary obligation is to the victims, a restorative process empowers victims to effectively participate in defining obligations.

Offenders are provided opportunities and encouragement to understand the harm they have caused to victims and the community and to develop plans for taking appropriate responsibility.

Voluntary participation by offenders is maximized; coercion and exclusion are minimized. However, offenders may be required to accept their obligations if they do not do so voluntarily.

Obligations that follow from the harm inflicted by the crime should be related to making things right.

Obligations may be experienced as difficult, even painful, but are not intended as pain, vengeance or revenge.

Obligations to victims such as restitution take priority over other sanctions and obligations to the state such as fines.

Offenders have an obligation to be active participants in addressing their own needs.