Following Restorative Justice Guidelines KCRJ will:
- Focus on crime against relationships rather than crime against the state.
- Involve all victims, offenders and communities equally and respectfully in the justice process.
- Empower all victims and communities by responding to their needs as they see them.
- Encourage offenders to understand, accept, and carry out their obligations in a supportive environment that encourage lasting life changes.
- Recognize that restitution for offenders should be achievable, not intended as punishment.
- Support opportunities for appropriate dialogue, direct or indirect, between victim and offender.
- Find relevant ways for community to deal with and respond to community based crime.
- Encourage voluntary collaboration and reintegration of both victims and offenders.
- Be mindful of unintended consequences of all actions and programs.
- Respect all parties - victims, offenders, and colleagues, preserving the dignity of all people.
- Implement KCRJ principles at every level of interaction, whether in a school setting or diversion program, during probation, in a detention, jail or prison setting, during and/or following parole or investigations.
KCRJ dedicates this website to you, a citizen and leader of Kentucky, as a means of networking, learning, sharing, and connecting with others who share a common interest in restorative justice and keeping up-to-date on training, technical assistance, and other resources and practices inside and outside Kentucky. Join now to receive the newsletter! Get involved!
Let's not do things becasue we must-lets do them because we choose them and they are right for us!