Understanding Restorative Justice

Restorative justice places individuals and communities at the heart of the response to experienced harms and their consequences, fostering accountability, reparation and healing.

Restorative justice aims to address the human, relational, and social consequences of situations involving abuse and violence, whether or not they have gone through the justice system. It recognizes that when an individual experiences or causes harm, the resulting needs—for those affected, their loved ones, the responsible parties, and the broader communities—are not always taken into account by conventional justice mechanisms. It therefore seeks to foster the repair of harms, the accountability of offenders, and dialogue among all parties involved whenever possible and desired.

Rather than focusing solely on the violation of a legal rule or the penalty to be imposed, restorative justice examines the real-life consequences for the people affected, fostering reparation pathways tailored to their circumstances and addressing the underlying factors that contributed to the harm suffered. This transformative dimension acknowledges that certain harms are rooted in broader inequalities, exclusions, or social fractures.

Restorative justice draws inspiration from traditions and practices found in numerous societies around the world. Long before the emergence of modern criminal justice systems, diverse communities across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, and elsewhere were already prioritizing—in various forms—dialogue, repairing harms, compensating for injuries, and restoring social bonds.

Starting in the 1970s, restorative justice (justice réparatrice in Quebec, or justice restaurative/restauratrice in French-speaking Europe) developed across Western societies as a structured contemporary movement, emerging in response to the limitations of exclusively punitive approaches.

Restorative justice is open to anyone who has experienced or committed abuse or violence and wishes to engage voluntarily in such a process. It can involve people who are direct victims or those responsible for the acts. It can also involve loved ones and family members (of victims or offenders), as well as members of the community.

• Creating a voluntary space for dialogue among people affected by abuse or violence
• Acknowledging the impacts of the actions committed
• Fostering accountability
• Repairing what can be repaired, even if only symbolically
• Contributing to peace of mind and healing for individuals and communities
• Rebuilding trust and relationships wherever possible

Every reparation process is unique. What is restorative for one person or community is not necessarily so for another. In some cases, the simple act of being listened to, understood, or recognized in one's lived experience already constitutes a significant form of reparation. That being said, depending on the different types of restorative justice, possible forms of reparation may be:

• Emotional: listening, recognizing, and alleviating suffering.
• Relational: (re)establishing dialogue and rebuilding trust.
• Community: contributing to the well-being of the affected community.
• Symbolic: acknowledging harm, apologizing, or paying tribute.
• Collective: responding to harms that affect an entire group or collectivity.
• Material or financial: repairing, replacing, or compensating.

Restorative justice can take place before, during, or after judicial proceedings. It can also be implemented completely outside the criminal justice system, within community, educational, institutional, or organizational settings. Restorative justice is not defined primarily by the legal nature of a situation, but by the human needs it seeks to meet and the core principles it upholds. It is especially relevant when individuals wish to make sense of what occurred, be heard, acknowledge the repercussions of an act, take meaningful responsibility, repair harm, or rebuild strained relationships.

• Voluntary participation: Each person involved chooses freely whether or not to participate in the process and may withdraw at any time.
• Confidentiality: Information shared throughout the restorative justice process is protected according to established guidelines and mutual commitments made by participants.
• Multipartiality: Facilitators accompany all participants equitably and without bias.
• Respect: Every individual is welcomed with respect, regardless of their role, past background, or lived experience.
• Listening and dialogue: Encounters prioritize the expression of lived experiences, active listening, mutual understanding, and the quality of exchanges.
• Preparation tailored to each situation: Every process involves attentive preparation to account for the context, participants, and goals, ensuring everyone feels safe both physically and emotionally.
• Acknowledgment of needs and responsibilities: The process seeks to recognize the consequences of harm, the needs of affected individuals and communities, and the resulting responsibilities.
• The pursuit of tailored responses: There is no single formula. Each process is collaboratively shaped around the participants, the context, and their realistic expectations.

* We consulted Mylène Jaccoud for the development of this page, drafted in August 2026. Mylène Jaccoud is a Full Professor of Criminology at Université de Montréal, specialist in restorative justice, mediation, Indigenous peoples, criminological theories, and qualitative methods, as well as a longtime collaborator of the CSJR. We would like to thank her for her assistance and expertise.

Restorative justice encounters create spaces for dialogue, listening, and acknowledgment among people affected by situations of abuse or violence, within a safe, voluntary, and respectful setting.