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The FEU LAW Student Council, FEU LAW LEADERS, FEU LAW Football Club and the FEU LAW Airsoft Club were the manpower and Support group in this Restorative Justice Seminar Project of the FEU LAW Legal Rights Center

Transforming the Criminal Justice System

Restorative Justice is commonly known as a theory of criminal justice that focuses on crime as an act by an offender against another individual or community rather than the state. Dialog between the offending person and the person who has been harmed is a central process within restorative justice. The person who has harmed takes responsibility for their actions and the person who has been harmed is able to take a central role in the process, in many instances receiving an apology and reparation directly or indirectly from the person who has caused the harm through the use of a mediator or facilitator.

Restorative Justice is an approach to correct the injustices and ineffectiveness of our criminal justice system. It fosters a system that responds to crime by restoration rather than retribution. The point of departure for Restorative Justice is the offense and the need for true reconciliation and healing among offenders, their victims and all parties involved within a community.

"Restorative justice is a theory of criminal justice that focuses on crime as an act against another individual or community rather than the state. The victim plays a major role in the process and receives some type of restitution from the offender." (From Wikipedia's Restorative Justice listing.)

Prison Ministries
Crime Victims Ministries
Victim Offender Reconciliation Programs
Victim Offender Mediation Programs

Restorative justice takes many different forms, but all systems have some aspects in common. In criminal cases, victims have an opportunity to express the full impact of the crime upon their lives, to receive answers to any lingering questions about the incident, and to participate in holding the offender accountable for his or her actions. Offenders can tell their story of why the crime occurred and how it has affected their lives. They are given an opportunity to make things right with the victim—to the degree possible—through some form of compensation

In social justice cases, impoverished people such as foster children are given the opportunity to describe what they hope for their futures and make concrete plans for transitioning out of state custody in a group process with their supporters

In criminal cases, types of compensation include, but are not limited to: money, community service in general, community service specific to the deed, self-education to prevent recidivism, and/or expression of remorse.

In social justice cases, restorative justice is used for problem solving.

Restorative justice sometimes happens in the context of a courtroom, and sometimes within a community or nonprofit organization.

In the courtroom, the process might look like this: For petty or first-time offenses, a case may be referred to restorative justice as a pretrial diversion, with charges being dismissed after fulfillment of the restitution agreement. In more serious cases, restorative justice may be part of a sentence that includes prison time or other punishments] .

In the community, concerned individuals meet with all affected parties to determine what the experience and impact of the crime were for all. Those called out for offenses listen to others' experiences first, preferably until they are able to reflect and feel what those experiences were for the others. Then they speak to their experience: how it was for them to do what they did. A plan is made for prevention of future occurrences, and for the offender to heal the damage to the injured parties. All agree. Community members hold offender accountable for adherence to the plan.