Restorative Justice Programs
In January 2000, MCMC expanded the services of the agency to include restorative justice programs for juvenile offenders. This was a natural fit, because the history of the restorative justice movement is rooted in the mediation process.
Restorative Justice approaches crime as the result of community conflict and disharmony and "justice" can be achieved by peacemaking, dispute resolution and rebuilding "right relationships" (Christie, 1977; Van Ness et al., 1989).
Crime is seen as not merely as a violation of the law, but as a violation of the community. Thus, those most impacted by crime–the victim, the offender, their families, and their community–are the ones who best know how to address it.
The two restorative justice programs administered by MCMC are:
