Restorative Justice is a buzzword these days with many different applications to the core values of understanding, compassion, and accountability. For the last 8 years I have worked with individuals who have caused harm to others, most of which struggle with these incidents, and want to move past the trauma that they have caused someone, and themselves as well. Current psychology practices have not found effective evidence based treatment for individuals that struggle with harming others.  Like many of the practices that are out there that work toward resolving shame and guilt, like Alcoholics Anonymous or work done by Brene Brown.

A Restorative Justice approach guides the adoption and practice of values that helps the individual shed the negative image of a perpetrator, addict, abuser, and find relief in understanding who they were before the trauma and who they want to be moving forward. It is a way of resolving conflict in a neutral, compassionate, and responsible way. If you are involved with the criminal justice or probation system, there are ways to work through this experience to reduce the harm to you and others.