Restorative Justice
Healing people and relationships through accountability, empathy, and community — not punishment.
Justice that focuses on people, not punishment
Restorative Justice is an alternative way of viewing justice that focuses on people and relationships rather than laws and punishments. It seeks to meet the needs of people harmed by criminal wrongdoing while providing the wrongdoers the space to take responsibility for their actions and to make amends.
Restorative practices have their roots in Indigenous culture and traditions around the world where teaching and healing takes precedence over punishment. Wrongdoers come to understand how their actions impact others and learn from their mistakes — and the healing extends not just to individuals, but to entire communities.
Restorative Justice is voluntary and values-based. Empowerment, inclusivity, collaboration, and interconnectedness are all rooted in respect for every participant.
"Restorative Justice is a process to involve, to the extent possible, those who have a stake in a specific offense and to collectively identify and address harms, needs, and obligations, in order to heal and put things as right as possible."
— Howard Zehr, The Little Book of Restorative Justice (2002)Our Programs & Services
Restorative Community Conferencing
A voluntary process that allows all stakeholders affected by a specific crime to actively participate in the justice process, working collaboratively to decide how to repair the harm and create a mutually acceptable response.
Victim Impact Workshops
Group workshops that develop an understanding of the impact of crime, encouraging participants to take responsibility for their actions and to make amends. Conducted with court-referred youth and residents of incarceration facilities.
Talking & Peacemaking Circles
Based on ancient traditions, circles build trusting relationships through open sharing and deep listening. An ideal format for businesses, schools, and organizations to foster constructive communication and collaborative problem solving.
Facilitator Training
Three-day (21 hours) RCC facilitator training covering Restorative Justice foundations, facilitation stages, working with clients, handling challenging situations, and agreement writing — with ample role-playing practice.
How Restorative Community
Conferencing Works
Referral Received
A case is referred from courts, police, schools, or private sources. Trained facilitators make initial contact with all parties.
Individual Meetings
Facilitators meet separately with each party to hear their story, explain the RCC process, and discuss expectations and possible outcomes.
Readiness Assessment
The wrongdoer must be willing to admit to their actions and show remorse. The harmed party must be willing to work with the wrongdoer to find a way forward.
Face-to-Face Dialogue
All participants — claimant, respondent, support people, community members — share how the incident affected them and what they'd like to see happen.
Agreement & Follow-Up
A collaborative plan for making amends is written up and signed by all parties. Follow-up ensures completion of the agreement terms.
Benefits of Restorative Justice
For thePerson Harmed
Active involvement in the justice process
Opportunity to tell their story, be heard, and ask questions
Express anger and pain directly to those responsible
Decreased fear through personalizing the offender
For thePerson Causing Harm
Held accountable by facing those they've harmed
See the human cost of their actions
Opportunity to have a say in making things right
Develop empathy, responsibility, and community ties
For theCommunity
Stronger connections between community members
Active involvement in problem-solving
Decreased fear of crime and empowerment
Long-term health and resilience of the community
What Participants Say
Now I have a real understanding of the extent of the impact of my wrongdoing.
I will think about how my actions might affect someone before doing them.
The structure allowed me to face my offence in a non-hostile way.
Learning about how crime hurts a lot of people, not just the victim.
Case Referral Sources
Cases come to us from across the Harrisonburg community and beyond — from institutions, courts, and individuals seeking a better path to justice.
Ready to Explore
Restorative Justice?
If you or someone you know is involved in a crime that could be handled through Restorative Justice, we'd love to hear from you.
Contact Sue PraillABOUT US
Founded in 1982, the Community Mediation Center now doing business as the Fairfield Center, was the pioneering organization in Virginia offering professional conflict resolution and restorative justice services and training.
CONTACT INFO
590 Neff Avenue, Suite 3000 Harrisonburg, VA 22801
+1 (540) 434-0059
Monday to Friday 9:00 am — 5:00 pm
info@fairfieldcenter.org
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