Restorative Justice is not a single program but an approach to justice itself. Rather than treating a crime as an offense against the state alone — Joe Smith vs. State of California — it recognizes that crime harms real people and real communities, and it brings those affected together to address that harm directly. Victims are given a real opportunity to describe the impact of what happened to them, and offenders are supported in taking full responsibility, often through direct or facilitated dialogue.

Many restorative approaches have roots in indigenous practices used for generations to hold community members accountable while keeping the community whole. Today the family of restorative practices includes victim-offender dialogue, family-group conferencing, peacemaking and sentencing circles, truth and reconciliation processes, and restorative school discipline programs, among others.

Restorative justice today has thousands of practitioners worldwide, working through hundreds of organizations, court programs, schools, and community groups.