In the broadest sense, restorative justice is a set of principles and practices based on the values of respect and accountability. These practices, with roots in Indigenous societies, can be used to build and maintain relationships, and to repair harm when necessary. They can be applied at the personal, interpersonal, community, and societal level and in various institutions such as the criminal legal system and schools.
Restorative justice deals with a crime, infraction, or injustice by seeking to heal or repair the harm that was done to the person wronged and to the community, rather than simply punishing and locking away the person who created the harm. There are many different ways that restorative justice may be used. For example, individuals may be referred to restorative justice programs by the police or courts, or some communities may have restorative justice programs completely separate from those institutions.
In a restorative justice community conference, all parties with a stake in the wrongdoing are invited to participate, after intensive preparation. This includes the person who committed the harm, their family members and/or friends, the person who was harmed (or a surrogate) and their supporters, as well as members of the community. In some cases, a “circle” is convened in which safety and respect are prioritized. Each person has the opportunity to speak, explain what they were thinking, how the offense affected them and how they think the injury can be healed. The person who committed the harm is invited to be accountable to repair the harm they caused to people and to the community. They may also be empowered to heal and develop themselves in a positive direction.
The process to repair harm can take months or years to fulfill, and many consider it to take more effort than going to prison, yet it is more acknowledging of one´s humanity and willingness to change. In some cases, the community may also recognize the ways in which it bears responsibility for not addressing the conditions that lead to the person harming others, such as unaddressed trauma, poverty, and the cyclical nature of violence, and the community may resolve to address these underlying, systemic issues. Restorative justice shifts our perspective from control and punishment to growth and healing.
Practices vary widely. Some schools use regular restorative justice circles to build community, trust, and acceptance among students. Then, if a conflict arises, restorative justice circles can be used so that all parties to the problem can be heard and together arrive at a solution. Students may be encouraged to convene their own circles, and others may be convened by teachers and administration dealing with disciplinary problems.
NJ-RJN is an organization that brings together restorative justice practitioners and advocates to work collaboratively across multiple organizations to lift up restorative justice practices, advocate for restorative justice in communities, support new and existing programs, and work to pass restorative justice legislation.
Advocates for restorative justice saw that there was no central place in the state for individuals interested in restorative justice to go for information, resources and education, nor to connect, and support each other. We wanted to act as a collective for all the groups/activists/entities practicing restorative justice in New Jersey.
NJ-RJN brings together practitioners and advocates of restorative justice in regular communication to share information, support each other, and mobilize for more restorative justice initiatives. We maintain a database of New Jersey groups using restorative justice practices and offer educational programs to the public.
Please see our developing Directory with descriptions of existing initiatives.
Rather than putting a label on restorative justice, consider your views on the following questions to determine whether you support restorative justice:
- Do you think that people harmed by crimes deserve support services to help them heal, to have a voice in how the offender is held accountable, and to have their questions about why the offense occurred answered?
- Do you think the person who committed a wrong should be given the opportunity to repair the harm done and rehabilitate themselves rather than just being locked up?
- Do you believe each person has dignity and is redeemable even if they cause harm?
- Do you recognize that many people who commit violent crimes were often themselves the victim of an unhealed traumatic or violent incident in their past?
- Do you think it is common sense to build up communities and repair harm rather than simply locking up people?
- Do you think we could save taxpayer dollars by reducing crime, reducing recidivism, and offering alternatives to incarceration?
Some police departments refer individuals to restorative justice programs. We would like to expand their number by educating people, including police and those in the legal system, about the extraordinary possibilities of restorative justice. It has the potential to have positive impacts across New Jersey for individuals, families, and communities.
If you wish to help us in this endeavor, please fill out the contact form on this website. We need people to help with all aspects of our volunteer organization. Some areas include advocating for legislation; gathering information about existing programs; composing content for our website and newsletter; educating people about restorative justice, and serving as organizers and facilitators of all these activities.
We list New Jersey initiatives in the Directory. If your program is in New Jersey, please contact us through the contact form on this website. We will reach out to you. We hope you will also join our network!
In 2020 the New Jersey Legislature passed the Restorative Justice in Schools Pilot Program which promotes programs that use trauma-informed approaches to discipline, reduce racial disparities in suspensions and expulsions, and improve the socioemotional and behavioral responses of students. Our group will be closely following the implementation of this bill.
In 2021 we are advocating for the Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Programs bill. (S2924/A4663) This bill, focused especially on youth, would establish a two-year pilot program in the Juvenile Justice Commission whose purpose is to help youth avoid any initial involvement with the legal system, to assist with the reintegration of young people released from juvenile facilities, and to prevent recidivism.
The legislation names four target cities – Trenton, Camden, Newark, and Paterson – and calls for (1) wraparound services for addiction, mental health, and life skills support, and (2) restorative justice hubs where youth and families can heal, reconnect, and build healthy relationships, and help resolve local conflicts through dialogue instead of punitive measures. The bill is funded by reallocating $8.4 million dollars from the category of Juvenile Services for the Department of Law and Public Safety to a new fund, the Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Program Fund.
We invite others to join us in supporting this bill and regularly post actions that can be taken.