"Restorative Justice is a process to involve, to the extent possible, those who have a stake in a specific offense and to collectively identify and address harms, needs and obligations in order to heal and put things as right as possible." - Howard Zehr

Our justice system operates using the retributive justice paradigm. Under this paradigm, crime is seen as a violation of the state (not the person who was victimized) and is defined as lawbreaking and guilt. What is being violated is an abstract entity. This kind of justice focuses on establishing guilt, then from this guilt doses of pain are measured out. There is a conflict between the offender and the state where one side wins and the other loses. Often, in this system, the rules and intentions outweigh the outcomes.

With restorative justice, the victim is involved in addressing the harm, which does not often happen in the retributive system of justice. Also involved are the offender and the community who, along with the victim, search for solutions that will promote reconciliation and reassurance. In Restorative Justice, a dialogue and mutual agreement is encouraged between the victim and offender who are the main players.

We are working toward Restorative Justice when we...

1. Show equal concern and commitment to victims and offenders, involving both in the process of justice.
2. Work toward the restoration of victims, empowering them and responding to their needs as they see them.
3. Support offenders while encouraging them to understand, accept, and carry out their obligations.
4. Encourage collaboration and reintegration rather than coercion and isolation.
5. Show respect to all parties including victims, offenders, and justice colleagues.
   - Harry Minka and Howard Zehr.

"Restorative justice...takes a holistic, system-wide view of the social situation, includes all players in solutions and affirms the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every human involved and their capacity for growth and change; it's dynamic is strength-based and empowering." -- The Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work