How can restorative justice methods be measured for effectiveness?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Measures of restorative justice include victim satisfaction with the outcome/process, payment of restitution, and cost savings. Restorative justice is most welcomed by victims of property crimes because the victim is more likely to be compensated for property losses. In traditional criminal justice, the victim is rarely compensated. Restorative justice is still attempting to overcome challenges with community education and public opinion. Any time the community plays a role, it introduces the unpredictability of public opinion, which can vary widely. Community members may be undereducated about the nature of the crime and may even blame the victim. The offender may take advantage of this by minimizing the harmful behavior. The involvement of family and friends of both the victim and offender, particularly when the victim and offender know each other, can be difficult if the family seems more supportive or even approves of the offender's behavior (Daly and Stubbs, 2006). Finally, some victims' groups are opposed to restorative justice initiatives because some find them to be centered around offenders, and others find them offensive because reintegrative shaming is used over retribution and stigmatization. Some victims are not able to communicate or be an advocate on their own. This may exert too much pressure on some victims. The greatest challenge victims pose to restorative justice is indifference. Restorative justice sanctions are primarily economic in nature (paying back losses) and labor intensive (bettering the community).