Assignment

Restorative Justice Participant Roles in the Context of Crime and Justice

There are several parts to this Critical Thinking assignment, one of which requires you to think about your own assumptions. Start by considering the various players affected by a crime: the offender, the victim, the community (which may include neighbors, educational institutions, religious organizations, etc.), and the state. Then consider the following questions about each role:

•What rights does/do this person or these people have?
•What responsibilities does/do this person or these people have?
•How involved should this person or these people be in the criminal justice process?

In a well-written paper, begin by describing your own answers to the above questions for each role. If you find that your answers have changed in the last few weeks of taking this course, include in your paper both the beliefs you held coming into the course, as well as your current answers to these questions. Then answer these questions from a restorative justice perspective, using at least two outside sources as support. Compare the assumptions in your own answers with that of the restorative justice.