Who Benefits From Restorative Justice?
Here at Midwest ADR, we empower individuals who live, work, or operate in any of the following environments:
Civil and Criminal Justice System
Restorative Justice (RJ) can be used anywhere to prevent conflict, build relationships and repair harm by enabling people to communicate effectively and positively. RJ is increasingly being used in schools, children's services, workplaces, hospitals, communities, civil and criminal justice systems. Our current criminal justice system is (flawed) broken. Our courts are overcrowded, overwhelmed, and understaffed not to mention no one is being rehabilitated, this is leading to ineffective resolutions for both victims and offenders.
Courts
In criminal justice, RJ gives victims the chance to meet or communicate with their offenders to explain the real impact of the crime – it empowers victims by giving them a voice. It also holds offenders to account for what they have done and helps them to take responsibility and make amends. In criminal justice, RJ gives victims the chance to meet or communicate with their offenders to explain the real impact of the crime – it empowers victims by giving them a voice. It also holds offenders to account for what they have done and helps them to take responsibility and make amends. ;
Schools
There is an emphasis on implementing RJ principles in the school districts around the country. This is a great idea, as RJ principles are a great learning experience to children to develop discipline, respect for their classmates, faculty, teachers, but most important themself and their parents he/she will be less likely to commit crimes and will grow into peace-loving citizens. Our schools, teachers, and administrators are dealing with behavioral issues, including bullying, truancy, delinquency, etc. and are in desperate need of implementing a program which can help break the vicious cycle of a revolving door of repeat offenders. RJ is the program that will help make this possible.
Workplace
RJ can involve both a proactive approach to preventing harm and conflict and activities that repair harm where conflicts have already arisen in the workplace. Where the latter is required, a facilitated restorative meeting can be held. This enables individuals and groups to work together to improve their mutual understanding of an issue and jointly reach the best available solution. But in many cases a less formal approach, based on restorative principles, may be more appropriate. RJ supports people to recognize that all of their activities affect others and that people are responsible for their choices and actions and can be held accountable for them. It enables people to reflect on how they interact with each other and consider how best to prevent harm and conflict in the workplace.
Hospitals
RJ principles developed originally in tribal and indigenous communities and eventually, during the late 20th century, began to matriculate for American and Canadian youths, particularly in resolving criminal and juvenile delinquent behavior, then moved into adult criminal behavior, and now is moving into other areas including hospitals, personal injury law, workers compensation, adult abuse and other areas, where the focus is on the victim and how the victim is treated. As opposed to traditional criminal justice, where the victim is basically an afterthought, and only consulted briefly prior to the time the offender has been satisfactorily dealt with, in restorative justice the victim is the primary focus. This is particularly applicable to youth restorative justice. However, it is also used in almost any situation including Hospitals where patients are attacking hospital staff.
Communities RJ in communities resolves conflicts and disputes before It enables people to understand the impact of their behavior on others. It delivers effective outcomes owned by the local community and creates stable, positive community environments. RJ in communities should incorporate a range of models including community facilitation, police, court and community support, neighborhood and charrette justice panels to deliver innovative, community-based learning centers; Referrals can come from courts, police, community organizations, local agencies and housing associations, and other neighborhood and community agencies.
Children’s Services
By supporting challenging young people to deal with conflict in a positive and constructive way, restorative approaches can help to ensure that they are able to avoid contact with the criminal justice system. This both improves their life chances and reduces demands on the police. In any setting involving children and young people, restorative approaches teach an understanding of others' feelings and the ability to connect and communicate successfully.
Housing An increasing number of housing associations are using RJ to deal with local conflicts and disputes including noise nuisance, verbal abuse, harassment, other nuisances, minor property damage, and other housing and neighborhood issues that are normally referred to local housing court administration. RJ is effective at both tackling new and potential conflicts which may develop into major disputes that seem intractable.
For more information to see how Restorative Justice can help you or someone you know, call us today!