Enough is Enough
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The term Restorative justice is in my opinion the wrong choice of words.
Restorative means to "restore", to "return to original", to make as before".
Any incident created change - a break-in, theft, violence, etc. and a person is never quite the same - and can you bring back someone who has been killed - No! How then can we restore?
The best we can do is bring groups of people with differing opinions together to get a shared understanding around an incident, and with parties prepared in parallel, a positive outcome may be forthcoming - "Co-operation".
Perhaps a difficult concept - co-operation with those that have harmed - it seems to me more appropriate terminology.
"Crime and punishment" is an outdated concept.
"Crime and consequences" creates a greater vision on dealing with issues.
Yes! There has to be punishment but it is a small part of a much bigger picture - There is a real need to look at the needs of all parties involved in a situation - victim, family, friends, broader community, offender's family and friends.
Content of punishment process - appropriate punishment - healing processes.
Conferencing-Post Sentence-after a courts decision-
diversionary-prior to , or an alternative to court.