Restorative Justice Georgia
Georgia Justice Project (GJP) is excited to announce the launch of Restorative Justice Georgia – the first restorative justice program in the state to address harm caused by felony offenses.
Restorative justice is a victim-centered process that facilitates dialogue between the person responsible for a crime and the person harmed by the crime and creates a path for accountability. Restorative Justice Georgia will work with District Attorneys around the state who will refer eligible cases where the victim of a crime is interested in participating in a facilitated dialogue. Not all cases are eligible, and eligibility will be determined by individual jurisdictions.
As a part of our core mission, GJP demonstrates a better way to address criminal legal issues and serve justice-involved Georgians. We are launching Restorative Justice Georgia as another innovative approach to addressing complex problems within Georgia’s criminal legal system.
The goals of Restorative Justice Georgia are to promote paths that hold responsible parties accountable for harm, give a voice to those affected by harm, bring an opportunity for justice, change, and ultimately healing for survivors of harm and their communities.
What is restorative justice?
Restorative justice is a community-based approach to dealing with crime and harm with indigenous roots that centers the voice of the victim. Through a process conducted by trauma-focused, trained and neutral facilitators in a safe and respectful environment, restorative justice examines the harm caused by an offense and seeks to repair that harm by giving victims a chance to express their needs and hold responsible parties accountable for their actions. This process allows individuals to make amends to the harmed person and the community, with a focus on accountability, healing, and reintegration.
Studies show that a restorative justice approach significantly increases victim satisfaction with the criminal legal process, reduces recidivism compared to outcomes from the traditional criminal legal system, and responsible parties are more likely to fulfill restitution requirements after engaging in a restorative justice process.
Steering Committee Members
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Justice Harold Melton, Partner at Troutman Pepper and former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court
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Dax Lopez, former DeKalb County state court judge, attorney at DelCampo Grayson Lopez
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Sherry Boston, DeKalb County District Attorney
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Dalia Racine, Douglas County District Attorney
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Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council
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Bert Skellie, Restorative Justice Advocates of Georgia
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