A Restorative Justice Yardstick

Do victims experience justice?

• Do victims have sufficient opportunities to tell their truth to relevant listeners?
• Do victims receive needed compensation or restitution?
• Is the injustice adequately acknowledged?
• Are victims sufficiently protected against further violation?
• Does the outcome adequately reflect the severity of the offense?
• Do victims receive adequate information about the 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 from others?
• Do victims’ families receive adequate assistance and support?
• Are other needs—material, psychological, and spiritual—being addressed?

Do offenders experience justice?

• Are offenders encouraged to understand and take responsibility for what they have done?
• Are misattributions challenged?
• Are offenders given encouragement and opportunities to make things right?
• Are offenders given opportunities to participate in the process?
• Are offenders encouraged to change their behavior?
• Is there a mechanism for monitoring or verifying changes?
• Are offenders’ needs being addressed?
• Do offenders’ families receive support and assistance?

Is the victim-offender relationship addressed?

• Is there an opportunity for victims and offenders to meet, if appropriate?
• Is there an opportunity for victims and offenders to exchange information about the event and about one another?

Are community concerns being taken into account?

• Is the process and the outcome sufficiently public?
• Is community protection being addressed?
• Is there a need for restitution or a symbolic action for the community?
• Is the community represented in some way in the legal process?

Is the future addressed?

• Is there provision for solving the problems that led to this event?
• Is there provision for solving problems caused by this event?
• Have future intentions been addressed?
• Are there provisions for monitoring and verifying outcomes and for problem solving?

Source: Howard Zehr, Changing Lenses
(Scottsdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press,1990).