What is Restorative Justice?

Restorative Justice is a philosophy and an approach to discipline that moves away from punishment toward restoring a sense of harmony and well-being for all those affected by a hurtful act.  It focuses not on retribution but on reconnecting severed relationships and re-empowering individuals by holding them responsible.  This approach acknowledges that when a person does harm, it affects the people they hurt, the community, and themselves.  When using restorative measures, an attempt is made to repair the harm caused by one person to another and to the community so that everyone is moved toward healing.