Final answer:
Restorative justice is a rehabilitative approach to criminal behavior that encourages reconciliation and healing among offenders, victims, and communities. It emphasizes direct engagement, healing, community involvement, and restoring relationships affected by crime, and has proven cost-effective and satisfying for victims.
Step-by-step explanation:
Definition and Principles of Restorative Justice
Restorative justice is a system of criminal justice that focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large. This approach views crime as a form of injury, emphasizing the need to heal the relationships that have been damaged by criminal behavior. The principles of restorative justice involve:
Bringing together offenders, victims, and communities to discuss the impact of the crime and determine a path for healing.
Focusing on the needs of the victims as well as the offender's responsibility for repair.
Seeking outcomes that promote healing, community involvement, and reintegration of the offender.
Restorative justice programs often lead to higher victim satisfaction and can be more cost-effective than traditional criminal justice responses.