Howard Zehr, known as the father of restorative justice, once said, “If crime is a wound, justice should be healing.” Simply put, the church defines justice as the “right order of relationships.” It is a tremendous honor and obligation to bring people into right relationship with others, and to heal the wounded in our midst. Restorative justice empowers survivors of crime and their families by:
- Providing for physical and emotional care first
- Ensuring obligations created by the offender are met
- Requiring community services that encourage a healthy return to life
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Examples of RJ at work for victims and families:
San Diego Restorative Justice Mediation Program
Help, Hope & Healing family support groups in Los Angeles
Ministry of Presence for victims of violent crime in San Francisco