What gets “RESTORED” in Restorative Justice

Restorative justice methods are intended to “restore” a key element to victims and offenders that they could not obtain in the traditional criminal justice system. This includes giving victims a voice, reestablishing connections to the community, and reestablishing a sense of responsibility, rather than having the offender simply “do the time”. Restoration processes also might address the community’s needs in terms of what the community lost as a result of the crime, and how it might be regained or restored in a tangible and meaningful manner. The defining thread through the patchwork of restorative justice options is that restorative justice plans are individually crafted, and speak uniquely to the individual victim and his or her community.
Within the Interactive Community: Week 4 visit the Television Station for the latest news about the murder of Andy Simpson. Explore the Interactive Community for background on the event in question, the participants, the victims, and the community reactions since the murder. (You may also wish to view the following document, which mirrors the information about the victim and offenders in this week’s Interactive Community: Vignette Week 4.)
By Day 4
Post an evaluation of the impact of implementing a restorative justice program for the situation described in Week 4 of the Interactive Community, including benefits and consequences for the offender, victim’s family and community at large.