Restorative justice for sexual violence: repairing victims, building community, and holding offenders accountable

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2003 Jun:989:384-96; discussion 441-5.

Abstract

Problems in criminal justice system response to date and acquaintance rape, and the nonpenetration sexual offenses are identified: (1) these crimes are often markers of a career of sexual offense, yet they are widely viewed as minor; (2) perpetrators of these crimes are now held accountable in ways that reduce their future threat of sex offending; and (3) current criminal justice response to these crimes disappoints and traumatizes victims and families. In response to these identified problems, we are implementing and evaluating RESTORE, an innovative victim-driven, community-based restorative justice program. Restorative justice views crime as harm for which the person responsible must be held accountable in meaningful ways. RESTORE uses a community conference to involve the victim, offender, and both parties' family and friends in a face-to-face dialogue directed at identifying the harm, and developing a plan for repair, rehabilitation, and reintegration into the community.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Community Networks
  • Crime Victims / psychology*
  • Criminal Law / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Humans
  • Sex Offenses / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Social Responsibility*
  • United States
  • Violence*