Restorative justice models present an alternative way for communities and lawmakers to understand and respond to crime. These models give people who have been harmed the opportunity to be heard, ask questions, seek restoration and gain closure. At the same time, individuals responsible for the crime gain an opportunity to apologize and make amends.
This report, produced by the National Conference of State Legislatures, examines restorative justice as a promising approach to juvenile justice reform. The document describes various restorative justice models and how they work to repair harm caused by delinquent acts while balancing the needs of the victim, the individual who committed the offense and the community at large.
Restorative Justice Eligibility and Efficacy
Both the young people who have committed harm and the people they’ve harmed can benefit from participating in the restorative justice process, according to research. For example, a 2015 study evaluating the effectiveness of restorative justice programs found that:
Restorative justice programs moderately reduced future delinquent behavior, increased victim satisfaction and boosted perceptions of fairness in the justice system.
Only 18.4% of young people who had participated in a restorative community conferencing program had committed another delinquent act one year later. This rate rose to 32% among young people whose cases were processed through the traditional juvenile system.
Due to the lower rates of re-offending, the program’s average one-time cost of $4,500 is significantly less than the average annual cost of keeping a youth on probation, which tops $23,000.
Prosecutors’ Perspectives
Prosecutors play a pivotal role in restorative justice practices by providing accountability, improving safety and meeting the needs of crime survivors. Accordingly, the report outlines best practices for prosecutors seeking to adopt restorative justice models. These include:
working with community partners to define an expansive scope of offenses eligible for restorative justice;
providing restorative justice training to all prosecutors;
learning about best-practice restorative justice programs; and
supporting legislation and policy that promote, develop and fund restorative justice programs.
State Legislation
Lawmakers have been enacting restorative justice policy for over 40 years and some state-level efforts are more comprehensive than others. Today, more than 50% of all states have adopted laws supporting restorative justice practices and a number of states are pursuing legislation to fund restorative justice programming.
Restorative justice practices do not follow a one-size-fits-all formula
Four common types of restorative justice practices are: 1) victim-offender mediation; 2) family group conferencing; 3) circles; and 4) victim-offender dialogue. Victim offender mediation involves a victim, offender and facilitator and it’s often used in instances involving property crimes and minor assaults. Family group conferencing engages support persons and community participants and emphasizes the offender taking responsibility for their actions and changing their behaviors. Circles focuses on repairing the harm done to the community and involves wider community participation than the other options. Victim-offender dialogue is strictly victim-initiated. It is not stipulated by the court and occurs after an individual has been convicted of a seriously violent crime, such as murder, vehicular homicide or felony assault.
Findings & Stats
Where States Stand on Restorative Justice
As of August 2022, six states have enacted laws with ideological or funding support for restorative justice programs, 14 states have laws that provide structural guidance should localities desire to setup restorative justice programs and 23 states have passed laws that establish such programs with structural guidance.
Meeting the Needs of Those Impacted
Restorative justice practices can address the needs of individuals impacted by an offense in ways that traditional justice practices might not. These needs include:
getting information from the responsible party;
feeling heard by the person responsible for the offense; and
helping to shape what the responsible party needs to do to “right the wrong.”
Evidence of Efficacy
Certain types of restorative justice programs — including victim-offender conferencing, family group conferencing and arbitration or mediation programs — help to reduce lawbreaking behaviors, according to a 2015 study by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and George Mason University.
Statements & Quotations
A recent survey of crime victims revealed they preferred people be held accountable through options other than incarceration, such as rehabilitation or community service.
Restorative justice is one policy area being examined as states continue to reexamine and rebalance approaches to juvenile justice policy.
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