Restorative justice is a philosophy and a movement that encompasses a shift in thinking from blame and punishment to addressing impacts to the victim and community, restoring relationships and reintegrating everyone successfully back into their community. The philosophy is practiced in many forms, although the two most common for VRJS are community justice conferences and community justice panels. We also facilitate victim-offender mediation, peacemaking/healing circles and hybrid models.
Community Justice Conference
This model is used pre-charge. The conference participants typically include an impartial facilitator and co-facilitator; the offender and his/her supporters; the victim and his/her supporters; a mentor to the offender; relevant community members; and, whenever possible, the arresting/investigating police officer(s). A consensus-based agreement focused on repairing the harm is created. Because this is the most common restorative justice process that VRJS facilitates, the majority of this manual is based around this model.
Community Justice Panel
This model used as an alternative for pre-charge cases where there is no participating or surrogate victim representation. The majority of panels occur in “theft-under $5000” shoplifting cases where the victim is a “big box” store. In panels, the facilitators take an active role in examining the harm and creating the agreement The facilitator, co-facilitator and mentor all act as community members in addition to their usual role – they are not neutral. As the offender answers the questions, the participating caseworkers are encouraged to engage in an ongoing discussion with the offender. The caseworkers also take an active role in helping form the agreement.
Victim – Offender Mediation
This model is typically utilized for offenders who are already involved in the formal criminal justice system (post-charge). When this model is used, the offender does not necessarily avoid a criminal record. The mediation circle involves highly skilled volunteers mediating between the offender and the victim. Once understanding between the two is built, they craft a plan of restitution to repair the harm that has occurred.
Peacemaking Circles – this model can be used for many different forms of conflict, both criminal and non-criminal in nature. Peacemaking circles are unscripted and very flexible to the needs of participants. They can handle very deep issues, and have been used by VRJS to address anything from a school dispute to an accidental traffic fatality.
Proactive programs – VRJS facilitates two programs for youth aimed to prevent them from future involvement in the criminal justice system: Girls’ Circle and the Youth Restorative Practices Certificate.
Public outreach and education - VRJS sponsors public presentations, workshops and training on restorative justice.
