What is Restorative Justice?
2012, 3:17 min
Restorative justice represents a paradigm change from thinking about justice as a mechanism for social control to thinking about justice as a mechanism for social engagement," says Dr. Brenda Morrison, the director of Simon Fraser University's Centre for Restorative Justice.
"We know that people who are engaged in healthy ways socially and emotionally make better decisions, and so restorative justice seeks to be socially and emotionally intelligent justice."
One of the differences between criminal and restorative justice, according to Morrison, is the questions we ask. "In a criminal justice process, we ask the questions, 'What happened?' 'Who did it?' 'What do they deserve?'...
"In a restorative justice process, we ask a different set of questions: 'What happened?' 'Whose obligations are these?' 'What do we need to do to right the wrongs?'...
"We know that injustice creates social and emotional harms to people and relationships," continues Morrison. "Restorative justice is about repairing those relationships and repairing the harm done...
"An important part of a restorative justice process is we ask people, 'How are you affected?' We don't ask those questions in a criminal justice process. We focus on the facts."
Morrison goes on to say that victims rarely have their voices heard in a courtroom--but they are heard strongly in a restorative justice process.
With restorative justice, victims are more satisfied with the justice system and less likely to seek revenge, says Morrison. They're also less likely to experience post-traumatic stress.
"Participation in a restorative justice process, while it takes great courage to come face-to-face with the person that's offended you, has huge social an emotional benefits. People go back to work, they don't have that fear every time they go by the place where the offence occurred. Injustice is very visceral feeling...
"Because it's emotionally intelligent, [restorative justice] repairs that visceral aftermath that we experience in injustice."
People benefit from restorative justice "anyplace where relationships matter," says Morrison.
"Conflict is a normal part of life. It can either shut us down, or it can provide us an opportunity to learn and grow and better understand each other. And that's what restorative justice is."
"We know that people who are engaged in healthy ways socially and emotionally make better decisions, and so restorative justice seeks to be socially and emotionally intelligent justice."
One of the differences between criminal and restorative justice, according to Morrison, is the questions we ask. "In a criminal justice process, we ask the questions, 'What happened?' 'Who did it?' 'What do they deserve?'...
"In a restorative justice process, we ask a different set of questions: 'What happened?' 'Whose obligations are these?' 'What do we need to do to right the wrongs?'...
"We know that injustice creates social and emotional harms to people and relationships," continues Morrison. "Restorative justice is about repairing those relationships and repairing the harm done...
"An important part of a restorative justice process is we ask people, 'How are you affected?' We don't ask those questions in a criminal justice process. We focus on the facts."
Morrison goes on to say that victims rarely have their voices heard in a courtroom--but they are heard strongly in a restorative justice process.
With restorative justice, victims are more satisfied with the justice system and less likely to seek revenge, says Morrison. They're also less likely to experience post-traumatic stress.
"Participation in a restorative justice process, while it takes great courage to come face-to-face with the person that's offended you, has huge social an emotional benefits. People go back to work, they don't have that fear every time they go by the place where the offence occurred. Injustice is very visceral feeling...
"Because it's emotionally intelligent, [restorative justice] repairs that visceral aftermath that we experience in injustice."
People benefit from restorative justice "anyplace where relationships matter," says Morrison.
"Conflict is a normal part of life. It can either shut us down, or it can provide us an opportunity to learn and grow and better understand each other. And that's what restorative justice is."
| Type | Video |
| Expression | Documentary/Interview |
| Topic | Restorative Justice |
| Audience | Adults |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Simon Fraser University |
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