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Are there any notable success stories in using restorative justice to resolve criminal cases?

Myrna Teare

Yes, there are many success stories when it comes to using restorative justice to resolve criminal cases. Restorative justice is a way of dealing with crimes that focuses on repairing the harm caused to the victim, community and offender.

One success story is from New Zealand, where the Maori people have been using restorative justice for hundreds of years. Their approach involves bringing together the offender, victim, and community to discuss how to repair the harm caused. This has resulted in lower rates of recidivism and a stronger sense of community.

In the United States, a program called "Community Conferencing" has been successful in reducing juvenile recidivism rates. This program involves bringing the offender and their support system together with the victim and their support system to have a facilitated conversation about how the harm can be repaired.

Another success story comes from Canada, where a program called "Gladue Courts" was created to deal with indigenous offenders. This program acknowledges the unique experiences and trauma that indigenous people have faced and provides a more rehabilitative approach that addresses the root causes of their offending behaviour.

Restorative justice has also been successful in cases of hate crimes. In the United Kingdom, a program called "Building Bridges" uses restorative justice to bring together victims of hate crimes with those who held prejudiced beliefs. The program has been successful in reducing prejudice and repairing relationships.

Overall, there are many success stories when it comes to using restorative justice to resolve criminal cases. By focusing on repairing harm and building relationships, restorative justice provides a more effective and humane approach to justice.