The primary focus of our criminal justice system has been to punish and get retribution for the crimes committed by offenders. It could certainly be referred to as a punitive or retributive justice system. While these components are often necessary for the process of justice in the United States, there is another process referred to as Restorative Justice that merits serious consideration.
Restorative Justice attempts to repair the harm done by crime and restore the well being of the victim, offender, and community. It certainly does not preclude punishment or retribution of offenders. But it does add a rehabilitative and healing component to the judicial system. Offenders need to experience a “change of heart” and be shown alternatives to their lives of crime. Victims of violent crime will never “get over it”, but they need a healing process to restore some of the tragic emotional loss they have experienced.
Crime separates both offender and victim from humanity and from community. They both are suffering with wounded spirits, the offender by his or her own choice and the victim by the choice of another. For different reasons and often by different processes, they need a journey of healing to restore them to the community and to humanity. With God’s grace and direction, Bridges To Life provides a process that heals both offenders and victims and transforms their wounded spirits.
Restoring Peace – Using Lessons From Prison to Mend Broken Relationships details the principles used in the Bridges To Life program, combined with actual stories from victim and inmate participants. The book is intended for repairing or improving relationships with others.
“The best part about this program is the small group setting which allows both victim and inmate to be open and honest with one another and the trust, confidence that is built through these groups.”