Restorative Justice Programs: Are They Truly Just?

Given the size and complexity of our criminal justice system, it is not certain whether a criminal and their victim will meet. Indeed, some jurisdictions try to keep the two as far apart as possible. Is this the best way to give justice to crime victims? What if they had the option to sit down with the person that did them harm to ask questions and make statements that wouldn’t arise in a courtroom?

Many restorative justice programs* aim to do just that, happening alongside the justice process or as a part of it, including after a sentence has already been served.

At this meeting, we’ll explore some of the core components of restorative justice and apply them to our own experiences with the criminal justice system. If you have been the victim of a crime, do you think you might have felt differently if you received an apology from the person that wronged you? Do you hope it would help you move on? Would it be a chance to hold criminals accountable? Even if you’re only indirectly affected by a crime, as a community member you might want to know what restorative justice can offer.

*Because “restorative justice” is so specific a term, we strongly recommend you watch this short explanatory video before coming to conclusions about the subject:
– What is Restorative Justice? Correctional Service of Canada (https://youtu.be/4VPStZAamxg)

Join the Crossing Party Lines discussion and have a voice in our Nation’s Conversation! People of all views are welcomed, appreciated, and heard.

Want to learn more?
– What is Restorative Justice? Correctional Service of Canada (https://youtu.be/4VPStZAamxg)
– The promise — and problem — of restorative justice, Vox March 2022 (https://www.vox.com/22979070/restorative-justice-forgiveness-limits-promise)

Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting – once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open (and the doors close) approximately 15 minutes after the hour.

Sign up here or through a chapter near you:
https://www.meetup.com/pro/crossingpartylines

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