WHAT IS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE?

1. WHAT IS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE? Ron Claassen Founder and Former Director - VORP Co-Director - Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies, Fresno Pacific University

2. The Purpose of Restorative Justice is: • To build up the community by providing a constructive framework to guide our responses conflict, offensive behavior, violations, and injustice. • To address safety, prevention, deterrence, accountability, and fairness concerns in ways that: • repair damages and “making things as right as possible.” • (re)establishes dignity and (re)integrates those who were harmed or alienated.

3. PROBLEMWe are doing Restorative Justice: • When we view rule or law violation as an indicator that points to the problem. • When we view the problem as the harms of wrongdoing (to people, relationships, property and community trust and safety).

4. PROCESSWe are doing Restorative Justice: • When we include victims, offenders, and community in the justice process. • When we identify the needs and obligations to “make things as right as possible.” • When we utilize voluntary and cooperative processes as much as possible with outside authority and coercive processes used as a backup or when safety is a primary issue.

5. PEOPLEWe are doing Restorative Justice: • When those people most impacted by the offense and their communities have the opportunity and assistance as needed to decide how to repair the damage and make things as right as possible. • When people in authority positions provide oversight and back-up as needed. • When we value all people.

6. ACCOUNTABILITYWe are doing Restorative Justice: • When wrongdoing and the harm it causes are not ignored. • When the injustice is recognized, the equity is restored as much as possible, and verifiable future plans are in place to create a safer and more civil future. • When there is a follow-up plan (utilizing the natural community as much as possible) to encourage and monitor the keeping of agreements.

7. CLIMATEWe are doing Restorative Justice: • When we create a safe a climate for everyone (including victim and offender) while recognizing there is always some risk in a community where individual freedom is valued. • When we create hope for safety, healing and restoration for victim, community and offender.

8. CONTEXTWe are doing Restorative Justice: • When the least formal safe context for “making things as right as possible.” is used. • Home is preferred to school, • School is preferred to community, • Workplace is preferred to court, • Community correction is preferred to State, etc. • When victim needs are given special consideration in determining context.

9. TIMINGWe are doing Restorative Justice: • When we are making things as right as possible as early as possible. • before the offensive behavior or the needs it created escalate into greater needs or more serious offenses. • Victims needs and preferences are given special consideration in determining timing.

10. EVALUATIONWe are doing Restorative Justice: • When success is measured, not by good intentions or by following right procedures, but by outcomes: • Are we reasonably safe? Has the harm been repaired? Are we empowered to be constructive? • When all responses (voluntary or coercive) are: • Reasonable, Respectful, and Restorative.

11. Wrongdoing Harms Justice Heals