Introduction: Suppose somebody broke your toy. What would you like? Just to see them suffer the punishment? Or would you like them to know how you felt and perhaps mend or replace your toy? That second solution for dealing with problems is what we term Restorative Justice, and it is quite different from punishing somebody in the old way.For example,”You did something bad, now suffer the consequences,”Restorative Justice says,”Sit with me. Talk with me. Feel the pain and let’s heal it somehow.”It takes a moment of pain and turns it into an opportunity for growth, learning, and human connection.
Keywords: Restorative Justice, ADR, Criminal law.
ADR Meaning: ADR means Alternative Dispute Resolution. It refers to resolving battles or court issues apart from the common courts. Courts may take long and cost a lot of money. ADR provides individuals quicker and more cheerful means of resolving issues.Tony Marshall, defined the term in following words : “Restorative justice is a process whereby parties with a stake in a specific offence collectively resolve how to deal with the aftermath of that offence and its implications for the future.”The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime defines the term Restorative justice as, “a process for resolving crime by focusing on redressing the harm done to the victims, holding offenders accountable for their actions and, often also, engaging the community in the resolution of that conflict”.