Restorative vs. Retributive justice side by side comparison

Restorative and Retributive Justice Side by Side Comparison

(Source: "Justice Paradigm Shift" by Howard Zehr in Victim Offender Conferencing in Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Justice System)

RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE Crime defined by violation of rules ____________________________ State as victim. _____________________________ State and offender primary parties. ____________________________ Interpersonal dimensions irrelevant. ____________________________ Offense defined in legal terms. ____________________________ Wrongs create guilt. _____________________________ Guilt is absolute, either/or. _____________________________ Guilt is indelible. _____________________________ Debt is abstract. _____________________________ Debt paid by taking punishment. _____________________________ Accountability = taking one’s “medicine.” _____________________________ Blame fixing central. _____________________________ Focus on past. _____________________________ Needs secondary. _____________________________ Battle, adversarial model normative. _____________________________ Imposition of pain normative. _____________________________ One social injury added to another. _____________________________ Harm done balanced by inflicting harm _____________________________ Victims’ needs ignored. _____________________________ Restitution rare. _____________________________ Sense of balance through retribution. _____________________________ State monopoly on response _____________________________ Encourages offender irresponsibility. _____________________________ Offender denounced. _____________________________ Offender stigmatized _____________________________ Justice tested by intent and process. _____________________________ Process alienates. _____________________________ Proxy professionals are the key actors. _____________________________ Win-lose outcomes assumed. _____________________________

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE Crime defined by harm to people. ____________________________ People and relationships as victims. _____________________________ Victim and offender are primary parties. _____________________________ Interpersonal dimensions central. _____________________________ Offense understood in full context _____________________________ Wrongs create liabilities and obligations. _____________________________ There are degrees of responsibility. _____________________________ Guilt removable thru repentance and reparation. _____________________________ Debt is concrete. _____________________________ Debt paid by making right. _____________________________ Accountability = taking responsibility. _____________________________ Problem solving central. _____________________________ Focus on future. _____________________________ Needs primary. _____________________________ Dialogue normative. _____________________________ Restoration/reparation normative. _____________________________ Emphasis on repair of social injuries. _____________________________ Harm done balanced by making right. _____________________________ Victims’ needs central. _____________________________ Restitution normal. _____________________________ Sense of balance through restitution. _____________________________ Victim, offender, community roles recognized. _____________________________ Responsible behavior encouraged. _____________________________ Harmful act denounced. _____________________________ Reintegration offered to offender. _____________________________ Justice tested by its outcome. _____________________________ Process aims at reconciliation. _____________________________ Victim and offender central _____________________________ Win-win outcome encouraged. _____________________________