Restorative community programs - Research Paper Example

RESTORATIVE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS In the context of legal justice, restorative programs arise out of the perception that crime causes harm which should always be repaired. The programs are therefore always intended to strike a balance between the individual needs of the offender, victims and the general community. All these parties are active partakers in the justice system. In most cases, restorative justice programs are defined by mediation between victims and offenders, restorative community services, community decision making and other activities normally intended to enhance accountability and coexistence in the society.

In the analysis of these issues, restorative justice requires that several questions are addressed. For instance, questions concerning which laws are broken, who is the offender, which punishment to be applied and what harms arise out of the crime are such fundamental concerns that should always be addressed in the program. Restorative programs have become important segments of the societal form of living. This is necessitated by the fact that crime needs to be addressed from its deepest roots other than simply curbing its prevalence (Braithwaite 2002).

Societies organize programs where the offenders are made aware of the negativities of their characters and proper ways are sought in order to rehabilitate any willing minds. Restorative justice works well in relation to such other contemporary methods like community policing, community prosecution and crime prevention. The fundamental fact in this respect is that offenders must always take responsibility of their actions while the community seeks to assist in the overall accountability of the society.

Restorative programs work well in societies where communities have not been involved much in the justice process. In that case, participation is normally enhanced in a way that the community understands itself and takes charge of its fundamental needs. ReferencesBraithwaite, J. (2002). Restorative justice & responsive regulation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.