A place at the restorative justice table

Source: (1999) Victim Services 2000 2 (March): 1, 3. Downloaded 3 August 2004.

Susan Laurence remarks at the outset of this article that, for various reasons, many crime victim advocates and service providers are in a quandary about groups and activities that are defined as restorative justice. Some view restorative justice programs with suspicion and skepticism, in particular to the extent that certain programs may be perceived as oriented around offenders and offender rehabilitation, perhaps even to the neglect of victims. Other victim advocates and service providers support restorative justice. Laurence discusses the reasons for these different perspectives, the principles of restorative justice, and ways in which restorative justice programs can be held true to restorative justice principles that recognize and empower victims.