Source: (1997) The Canadian Friend (May-June).
Writing in a Canadian context, Marc Forget decries the rates of incarceration in Canada, and the legalistic and retributive foundations of its criminal justice system. In that system, the victim is virtually ignored. In contrast, he observes, early legal systems emphasized the need for offenders to compensate their victims through some form of restitution. Hence, Forget argues for a fundamental redefinition of justice in terms of restorative justice. In a restorative justice perspective, crime is understood as harm to a person or persons, the victim is integral to the response to crime, and the response to crime should seek to repair the harm.
Your donation helps Prison Fellowship International repair the harm caused by crime by emphasizing accountability, forgiveness, and making amends for prisoners and those affected by their actions. When victims, offenders, and community members meet to decide how to do that, the results are transformational.
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