How does the concept of restorative justice differ from retributive justice?

Restorative justice is fundamentally centered on the idea of addressing the harm caused by criminal behavior rather than merely imposing punishment. This approach emphasizes the need for offenders to understand the impact of their actions on victims and the community, fostering a sense of accountability and encouraging them to take responsibility for repairing that harm. Through processes such as victim-offender mediation, restorative justice aims to promote healing for all parties involved, which includes not only restitution to victims but also reconciliation and reintegration of offenders into society.

This contrasts sharply with the focus of retributive justice, which primarily seeks to punish the offender as a means of deterring crime and enforcing societal norms. Retributive justice does not prioritize the needs or perspectives of victims in the same way restorative justice does; the emphasis lies more on the crime itself and the appropriate punishment.

Community safety, while important, is not the sole focus of restorative justice. Rather, it aims to enhance safety through the healing and rehabilitation of offenders, thereby reducing the likelihood of future offenses. Lastly, victim perspectives are critical in restorative justice, as recognizing their experiences is essential to the restorative process and achieving meaningful resolutions.