Personal Process Between Victim and Offender

Source: (2002) Te Ara Whakatika: Newsletter of the court-referred restorative justice project. August/September. Issue 11. Downloaded 11 June 2004.

In many court cases, the victim becomes detached from the sentencing process. Marie Rowan, a probation officer, believes that restorative justice helps to bring the victim back into the process and provides reconciliation between the victim and the offender. At a conference, Marie observed a victim who forgave the remorseful offender after viewing the offender “in a wider context than just the crime.” As a probation officer, though, Marie will continue to view the offender objectively to ensure that the offender is willing and able to change.