Community Accountability Programs Information ... - Ministry of Justice

Restorative Justice YardstickDo victims experience justice?Do offenders experience justice?Is the victim-offender relationshipaddressed?Are community concerns takeninto account?• Do victims have sufficient opportunities to telltheir truth to relevant listeners?• Do victims receive needed compensation orrestitution?• Is the injustice adequately acknowledged?• Are victims sufficiently protected againstfurther violation?• Does the outcome adequately reflect theseverity of the offence?• Do victims receive adequate information aboutthe crime, the offender, and the legal process?• Do victims have a voice in the legal process?• Is the experience of justice adequately public?• Do victims receive adequate support fromothers?• Do victims’ families receive adequate assistanceand support?• Are other needs – material, psychological, andspiritual – being addressed?• Are offenders encouraged to understand andtake responsibility for what they have done?• Are misattributions (distortions of fact, falseblaming, etc.) challenged?• Are offenders given encouragement andopportunities to make things right?• Are offenders given opportunities to participatein the process?• Are offenders encouraged to change theirbehaviour?• Is there a mechanism for monitoring orverifying these changes?• Are offenders’ needs being addressed?• Do offenders’ families receive support andassistance?• Is there an opportunity for victims andoffenders to meet, if appropriate?• Is there an opportunity for victims andoffenders to exchange information about theevent and about one another?• Are the process and the outcome sufficientlypublic?• Is community protection being addressed?• Is there a need for restitution or a symbolicaction for the community?• Is the community represented in some way inthe legal process?Restorative Justice: Promoting Community-Based Responses to Crime 14