Restorative Justice has become a movement within and beyond the justice system.  The term describes structures that do not ressemble one another yet are related.  It is easy to get confused!  Further, restorative approaches gain titles and acronyms such as Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program [VORP], Justice Circles, Victim Impact Panels and Neighborhood Accountability Boards.  These may seem distinct from RJ and yet may not be so.  How do we gain clarity from this very rich concept?

The greatest communication challenge arises from the fact that restorative processes are profoundly experiential and dynamic.  One needs to engage in a restorative process to understand its creative dimensions.  It holds the potential for positive growth, improved relationships and participatory citizenship.  RJ designs are based in the head; risk, growth and change, in living the process.

Quick "head" understandings are gained by asking the three questions found on the Front Page and also by specifying relevant criteria such as these developed by the Balanced and Restorative Justice Project:

1. Equal concern is shown for victims, those who caused harm and the affected community.
2. Those who caused harm are accountable and must focus on how to repair the harm.
3. There are opportunities for dialogue among those most affected.
4. Collaboration, power-sharing and reintegration are encouraged.
5. The affected community is active and empowered to increase its capacity to respond to harm and crime on behalf of the broader community of which it is a part.

When all of these criteria are met through a particular process then it is implementing restorative justice in its fullest sense.  More complete information is contained in Five Criteria for Calling a Program Restorative 

Experience confirms that principles matter.  New Zealand has benefited from a national law that has been in effect since 1989 which mandates Family Group Conferences [FGC] as one form of response to juvenile crime,.  Their 20-year experience has led their former national coordinator, Allan MacRae, to state that as long as every decision faced by any participant is true to the seven guiding principles, a restorative response to wrongdoing will be effective and beneficial.  Guiding Principles  If you are interested in a more comprehensive discussion of FGC's significant roles, it is available at  Youth Justice Process in New Zealand - Family Group Conferencing - Youth Court - New Zealand.mht  This link will take you to another website.  Click the upper left "Back" arrow to return to this wiki site.

Another mental "container" is to consider specific variables.  The United Nations identified 12 within which were choices along a continuum of possibilities.  If the math is correct, the number of combinations (just from this survey) that might be called "restorative justice" is 4 billion (that's no typo)!  Cartoonist Charles Schultz has Charlie Brown bemoaning the burden of having possibilities!  It is helpful to be aware of these variables/choice points.  They can map the "variations on a theme" that you will encounter.  UN Characteristics of RJ

Just in case you have yet to reached information overload, there are 9 pages worth of commentary and citations you can check out!   Restorative justice on Wikipedia.mht  This link will take you to another website.  Click the upper left "Back" arrow to return to this wiki site.