Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice

Restorative justice is a process that repairs the harm caused by criminal or delinquent behavior through the input or recognition of victims, offenders and community members.  In juvenile justice, restorative justice has greatly expanded in the past decade.  Restorative justice can include restitution and conferencing, and can also be more specific services like Victim-Offender Mediation.

Victim-offender mediation is an evidence-based practice that reduces recidivism and increases restitution to victims and to society through a process which provides the victim and offender a safe setting to discuss the offense with a trained facilitator.   Regional use of victim-offender mediation has occurred in a small number of cases, and is expanding due to grant funding and use of community-aid dollars.  Under Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-286(3), a judge may "with the agreement of the victim, order the juvenile to attend juvenile offender and victim mediation with a mediator or at an approved center" that is part of a roster maintained and made available by the Office of Dispute Resolution to courts and county attorneys.  Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-2908.