I believe that restorative justice is a great option for victims to get closure on parts of their lives that have been impacted by events that brought harm by others. In my University lectures, we have had many oral presentations by individuals who explained their stories and how the restorative justice system has given them another chance had a decent life. I agree with Joanne who stated that when her attacker was sentenced it did not bring her any closure and she still had that fear of him and for her life. In one presentation, a person had stated that exact same idea by saying when someone gets sentence, the criminal justice system thinks that justice has been served, when " all that has happened is one person gets sent to jail while the victims still are left with questions." I agree to some extent that some criminals should not have the chance to use restorative justice as an option, but as victims if it helps them heal and move on with their lives I believe that is the primary concern. Stats also show that restorative justice does make a difference in the re-occurring of crimes by individuals when they are helped and not just punished and released without any knowledge of how to better themselves and use other options then resorting to criminal means. For every presentation I have heard from a victim of crime, it has shown that when the person gets answers to questions they have about about their victimization, they feel more at peace knowing about their events then living with questions and fears of it happening again.

I agree with the previous comment and believe that crime victims turning to restorative justice is important for many reasons. One being that it takes a chance at restoring the relationship between the victims and their offenders. We cannot have victims live lives where they fear for their lives everyday. It is not at all good for the victim's health emotionally and physiologically. People often forget that by putting the harm-doer in jail, it does not make the victim feel at peace. As we have seen from guest speakers, direct and indirect victims have a lot of questions, and these mediations allow for those questions to be answered. It allowed Joanne to take back her life and live without the fear she has felt for so long as well as enable her to forgive her offender. Forgiveness is so powerful for both parties. Restorative justice allows the victim to meet their offender when they feel they are ready and are not moving artificially through the process. As powerful as restorative justice can be for victims, it can be just as powerful for offenders. Offenders need to know how they have impacted their victims through their crime, it breaks down another barrier in this victim-offender relationship. Hopefully it opens the offender's eyes and increases the likelihood that they will not want to recidivate and seek a better life for themselves once they are reintegrated back into society. And victims such as Joanne continue to feel safe.

Again, I must say that I agree 100% with crime victims turning to restorative justice means. With restorative Justice they can have face-toface interactions with the victim, offer closure as to why they committed the crime they did and also help themselves in hearing that, hopefully, the victim has forgiven them and they can have some burden of guilt lifted off of their shoulders. It does also give the victim the chance to have some form of control over the offender, as the offender is locked away in prison, but also because they would be part of the party that would want to do a face-to-face interaction, as more than likely they are searching for some form of uplifting guilt so they can move on with themselves too. I am glad you were able to forgive him, as that shows you have gained strenght through the whole process too, as well as giving the offender a chance to know that he can be forgiven and give him the opportunity to be able to move on with his own life.