What is Community Justice?

Community justice is known by many different names including restorative justice, balanced and restorative justice (BARJ), and restorative community justice. It is an alternative way to look at the criminal justice system. Crime is viewed as an offense against the community, which includes the victim and the offender, rather than against the state. Community justice focuses on repairing the harm to victims, communities, and offenders that occurs when a crime is committed.

Community justice principles encourage new approaches to crime and criminal justice:

• Victims have an active role in the justice system. They are empowered to ensure that their own needs are met and to resolve the feelings toward the crime that was committed. As a result, victims receive adequate reparation and can walk away from the experience feeling satisfied that justice has been served.
• Communities can enjoy a lower crime rate and safer neighborhoods by taking action against their crime problems rather than having the justice system make decisions for them. They can address their justice issues on a local level and find solutions that work for their unique circumstances. This involves a commitment to crime prevention programs and rehabilitation for the offender.
• Offenders are required to accept responsibility for their crimes and must take an active role in repairing the damage their crime has created. In the process, they are exposed to crime prevention programs and come away from the system with a better understanding of the consequences of their actions and the skills to make better decisions in the future.

For more information on community or restorative justice, please contact the California Community Justice Project or click on Links.