Justice, Restorative

The notion of justice is complex and multidimensional. The various kinds and features of justice lead to a variety of methods by which society and [Page 2000]its organizations may seek to implement, enforce, or restore just states of affairs. The principles that guide the considerations concerning justice range from fairness to equality, from equity to empathy, and from mercy to compassion. The Western approaches are usually retributive and rehabilitative in nature, involving the government’s legal system and courts and some form of punishment.

Restorative justice is an alternative to these approaches and is rooted in dialogue and the repairing of the relationships that have been damaged through harmful actions. Instead of rulings by judges, it is a dynamic process that actively engages the victims, the offenders, ...