Restorative Justice:

Our legal system is based on “Retributive” Justice--find the perpetrator and punish them. “Restorative” Justice recognizes that the whole community is hurt by crime, and that the whole community needs to be involved with healing. “Restorative” Justice seeks to restore the lost sense of peace and well-being in the community. The focus is on helping victims heal, but perpetrators are also supported as they try to change their lives and right their wrongs. Traditional societies, such as Native Americans, implement “Restorative” Justice by having everyone in the community sit down together. Everyone is listened to respectfully as they tell their story of how they were affected by a crime.