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Print Resources 2009
Restorative Justice Week 2009
What’s In It For Each of Us? Reflections of Why Victims and Offenders Participate in Restorative Practices - Celine Lee
Stories abound about victims and their offenders “meeting” together to talk about the incident that labelled each as either a victim or offender. An odd knowledge of each other has been formed in the minds of each individual that each may wish to forget, but is engraved in the minds of each by the nature of how they have come to be related. This relationship may have already been an established one - through community relations or family connections, or one that has developed out of the memories of the traumatic and often tragic event(s) that brought knowledge of each to the other.
To an outside observer, we may ask: why, who would want to even consider the thought of meeting an individual who had forever changed their life, what is there to gain but more hurt and anger? From those who have participated in these “meetings” we may respond by saying: I needed to know why this happened to me, I needed to tell him/her how they have changed my life forever, after all I have been through what more is there for me to lose?
The decision to participate in some form of a restorative justice practice may be a complex and difficult one for both victims and offenders. There may be fears of opening up old wounds, creating new scars, not knowing what this process will bring, or not knowing how others will respond to them for engaging in this process on the part of both the victim and offender. Below is a summary of some of the reasoning that both victims and offenders reflect upon in their decision to participate in meeting face to face with each other or participating in some form of a restorative justice forum.
| Victim’s Motivations | Offender’s Motivations |
|---|---|
| • Need to hear from the offender about the details of the offence | • Desire to explain why the incident happened and tell their version of the story |
| • Need to voice to the offender how the crime has impacted their life; to express emotions that have resulted of their victimization
• Need to be listened to and understood |
• Desire to express remorse to their victim(s) and tell them that they are sorry for their actions/behaviour
• Desire to express their feelings and emotions regarding their actions/behaviours |
| • Needing to find answers to questions that may be lingering or unanswered | • Desire to answer questions that the victim may have for them |
| • Need to learn more about the offender and understand what brought them to where they were when they offended against their victim | • Desire to demonstrate to the victim that they have taken the steps to address their offending behaviour and that there is minimal risk for re-offending |
| • Need to know that the offender will not re-offend when released back into the community; that they will be safe from further harms from the offender | • Desire to reassure the victim that they can feel safe; that they have no intention to cause them further harm |
| • Attempt to find a sense of justice
• Desire to offer forgiveness • Desire to see something good come out of the tragedy • Need to find closure and bring normalcy and a sense of control back into their life • Desire to put the incident to rest and search for a sense of peace as they carry on |
• Desire to be accountable to the victim, taking responsibility for the harm the victim has suffered as a result of their actions
• Desire to repair the damages that resulted out of their actions • Desire to make amends so that reintegration is possible |
Please register for the National Symposium on Restorative Justice
to be held in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, November 18th - 20th, 2009
Contact Noreen Byrne at (709) 631-0069, cms@nfld.net
