Benefits of Restorative Justice

Since it emerged as an alternative way of delivering justice, restorative processes have proven to have various benefits to people who volunteer to take part in them, including their families and friends.

One major benefit is the chance to ask questions, offer explanations and share personal views and feelings about what happened in a safe and respectful environment. When a crime has been perpetrated, this opportunity is often not there for people attending court hearings, or they feel that the courtroom does not offer them a safe space to have such open and personal discussions.

Restorative justice has also been described by participants as a turning point in their life, after which they were able to move forward in a more positive way. Restorative justice will not solve everything and will not change things to how they were before, but it does offer participants the opportunity to turn the page and get better or closer to where they want to be.

For these and many other reasons, restorative justice has overall shown to provide people with greater satisfaction with the justice process, a heightened sense of involvement and participation and a more personal and constructive way of addressing harm.

If you would like to hear about all these benefits directly from a victim of crime, you can watch the video on this page presenting Joanne’s experience of participating in a restorative justice meeting. The film is produced by the Restorative Justice Council, an independent third sector membership body for restorative justice providers that operates at national level.

[expand title=”Information for victims“]
Being a victim of crime may make you feel anxious, angry, ashamed or fearful. All these are natural reactions to the trauma that you have suffered. Victims sometimes say that they just want to forget and move on, and this is all right as well. What is important to know is that each person is unique and their reactions to what happened will be connected with their particular life stories and how they experience the harm. Restorative justice may offer a way to deal with some of the trauma, but not always. If you feel that restorative justice might be a good process for you, you can explore its suitability further with a restorative justice practitioner. The Directory section on this website lists some of the restorative justice providers that are available in the East Midlands region. Feel free to contact them directly for information about restorative justice.[/expand]

[expand title=”Information for offenders“]
Many people that have committed a crime feel at some point things such as shame, guilt, regret and remorse. They may feel bad about themselves or that they have done something wrong. They may also wish that they acted differently and sometimes they reflect on how their actions have affected the person that they have harmed. If you have felt any of these, it may mean that you are ready to take responsibility for the crime and participating in a restorative justice process could be an option. Restorative conversations with victims have shown to be stepping stones for many offenders in turning their lives around, allowing them to make amends through apologies and gestures of reparation. If you feel that restorative justice might be a good process for you, you can explore its suitability further with a restorative justice practitioner. The Directory section on this website lists some of the restorative justice providers that are available in the East Midlands region. Feel free to contact them directly for information about restorative justice.[/expand]

[expand title=”Information for family members and friends“]
It is not easy to be a family member or a friend of a person that has decided to take part in a restorative justice process. You will be expected to offer them support while dealing with your own trauma of what happened. But there is space for you as well in the process, and you can ask for your needs and wishes to be considered too. Restorative justice is a process through which you can give and get support, consolidate trust, and restore connections with those people you care for. If you have questions or are unsure about any of these, you can always talk with the restorative justice facilitator. Similarly, if you feel that restorative justice might be a good process for a family member or a friend that has been affected by crime but hasn’t yet heard of restorative justice, you can speak with them about this, give them the link to this website, or tell them to contact a professional with whom they can further explore whether restorative justice is suitable for them. The Directory section on this website lists some of the restorative justice providers that are available in the East Midlands region.[/expand]

[expand title=”Information for professionals“]
If anyone you work with has expressed an interest in taking part in a restorative justice process, please access the Directory section on this website that lists some of the restorative justice providers that are available in the East Midlands region. Feel free to contact them directly for information about restorative justice.[/expand]