"For me, an important realization was that the idea of justice itself could be offered in another way. In other words, justice wasn't something that was only accomplished by a judicial sentence – restorative justice is an alternative to that system. And it is indeed a form of justice, just one that starts with the victim, not the offender."

"Dealing with this type of crime through the courts is very traumatizing, as the offender attempts to mitigate responsibility and receive a lighter sentence. In RJ, the offender accepts responsibility, which is key in the healing journey for the victim."

"RJ showed me the scope of harm that resulted from my actions. I hadn’t realized just how many people can be affected by a single moment, by a single action of mine. In realizing this, I don’t think I would have been able to come to terms with the harm I caused without the supportive volunteers and RJ’s process and agreement terms."

"I highly agree that RJ is wonderful resource for healing and bettering individuals as opposed to the court process which can be very debilitating. I have learned the importance of communication and healing and not just on a personal level but as a community."

"It was amazing to see the amount of reflection the offender had done with the help of RJV."