Why Restorative Justice?
A typical response to crime is to find out what law was broken, who did it, and what they deserve. That response is useful in some ways. For example, it does seek to hold someone accountable for the crime committed. But it is inadequate in other ways. It fails to actively address how crime can be destructive to a web of relationships, to a neighborhood, and to a broader community. It also falls short of addressing the sometimes acute needs of victims who have been directly harmed by the crime.

Restorative justice strives for an accountability that builds relationships rather than destroying them. To that end, it places victim needs at the center, affirms community connections, and looks for ways to engage the offender in constructive ways.