Restorative Justice is the traditional justice system for many Indigenous peoples. It also has the added benefit of being the form of justice for many of our newcomer communities, who are also becoming one of the fastest rising populations caught up in our justice system for much the same reasons: trauma, poverty, colonization through violence and war.
Restorative Justice approaches crime and harm as an imbalance that needs to be corrected.
It ensures that the person who committed the harm is accountable, takes responsibility for and works to repair the harm.
When possible, it allows for direct restitution to the person harmed, but also provides more peace to these victims as they get a better understanding of the whys of what was done to them. Victims of crime who engage in restorative justice processes report much higher levels of satisfaction than those who go through our current system.