Restoring the Balance: Juvenile and Community Justice

Source: (2002) In, Wilson R. Palacios, Paul F. Cromwell, and Roger G. Dunham, eds.. Crime and Justice in America: Present Realities and Future Prospects, Second Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ : Prentice-Hall, Inc. P p. 324-337

From the perspective of restorative justice, the most significant aspect of crime is that it victimizes citizens and communities. The justice system should focus on repairing this harm by ensuring that offenders are held accountable for making amends for the damage and suffering they have caused. A restorative system would help to ensure that offenders make amends to their victims. Juvenile justice cannot do this alone, however. Restorative justice requires that not only government, but also victims, offenders, and communities be involved in the justice process. The most distinctive feature of restorative justice is its elevation of the role of victims in implementing justice policies. In an effort to achieve a balanced approach to juvenile justice, restorative justice articulates three goals: accountability, public safety, and competency development. Balance is attainable when administrators ensure that equitable resources are allocated to each goal. A table provides the measures for achievement and the priorities for practice for each of these goals. Abstract courtesy of National Criminal Justice Reference Service, www.ncjrs.org.