Legal Definitions - restorative justice

Restorative justice is a type of punishment for delinquency that focuses on repairing the harm done, meeting the victim's needs, and holding the offender responsible for their actions. Instead of just punishing the offender, restorative justice seeks to make things right for everyone involved.

For example, if someone vandalizes a park, a restorative justice approach might involve having the offender clean up the park and pay for any damages. This not only holds the offender accountable for their actions, but also helps to restore the park to its previous state and provide some relief to the community.

Restorative justice sanctions use a balanced approach, meaning that they try to find the least restrictive punishment possible while still making sure the offender takes responsibility for what they did. This can include things like community service or making restitution to the victim.