Kathy Elton presented the following ideas regarding "Restorative Justice" to the July general meeting of the Humanists of Utah:

Crime consists of more than a violation of the criminal law and defiance of government authority.

Crime involves disruptions in a three-dimensional relationship of victim, community and offender.

Because crime harms the victim and the community, the primary goals should be to repair the harm and heal the victim and the community.

The victim, the community, and the offender should all participate in determining the response to crime; government should surrender its monopoly over that process.

Case disposition should be based on the victim's and the community's needs-not solely on the offender's needs or culpability, the dangers he presents, of his criminal history.

What the research shows:

Victims of crime who meet their offender are far more likely to be satisfied (79%) with the justice system response to their case than similar victims who go through the normal court process (57%).

After meeting with their offender, victims are significantly less fearful of being victimized.

Offenders who meet their victims are far more likely to complete their restitution obligation to the victim (81%) than similar offenders who did not participate in a victim offender mediation session (58%).

Considerably fewer and less serious crimes were committed by offenders who participated in victim offender mediation (18%) when compared to similar offenders who did not meet with their victim (27%).