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@ISIDEWITHQuestionsCriminal IssuesStarted 11mos agoActive 2wks ago

Should the government implement restorative justice programs as an alternative to incarceration?

Restorative justice programs focus on rehabilitating offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community, rather than through traditional incarceration. These programs often involve dialogue, restitution, and community service. Proponents argue that restorative justice reduces recidivism, heals communities, and provides more meaningful accountability for offenders. Opponents argue that it may not be suitable for all crimes, could be perceived as too lenient, and may not adequately deter future criminal behavior.

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41 Replies

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...11mos11MO

Yes

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...11mos11MO

No

 @B46V7MRLibertarianfrom Alberta  answered…2wks2W

I would rather see a re-imagining of corporal punishment than so called "restorative justice". In the United States of America, the male half of the 13% black population commits over 50% of the crime. Most of those crimes are committed by men aged 15-25. One could use "Restorative Justice" to justify locking up all American black men from 15-25 as a proactive measure to protect the non-criminal majority. As you could imagine, in this example it would clearly be more ethical and effective to merely cane or whip the guilty parties on conviction.

 @9ZNZZY8from Ontario  answered…5mos5MO

Yes, but only for first offences which are non-violent.

 @9WQY7BPCommunistfrom Ontario  answered…6mos6MO

Yes, but provide restorative justice programs in addition to incarceration, not as an alternative

 @9WPPMKFRhinocerosfrom British Columbia  answered…6mos6MO

Yes, but only if the criminal is willing to change, and is showing signs of remorse.

 @9VY5FM6Conservativeanswered…6mos6MO

Develop a program where the victim(s) have a larger role in the sentencing as well as receive better restitution for their suffering.

 @9TW2CCSfrom Ontario  answered…7mos7MO

Yes, if the crimes are non-violent as well as adding it to incarceration.

 @9TQ65LHLiberalfrom British Columbia  answered…7mos7MO

Yes, but it should depend on the crime commit and the offenders age.

 @ISIDEWITHasked…7mos7MO

How would you personally feel about participating in a program that aims to heal, rather than punish, if you were harmed by someone else's actions?

 @9TH2JVBfrom Ontario  answered…7mos7MO

well i wouldnt feel safe unless they would be in a cell to not escape

 @9T8HZQYfrom Ontario  answered…7mos7MO

Yes, but it needs to be assessed on an individual basis

 @9RTLWCPIndependentfrom Ontario  answered…8mos8MO

Yes, I support a mix of both restorative justice program and incarceration, depending on the crime

 @B43QV9Mfrom Alberta  answered…3wks3W

Time limited indentured servitude and community service are both good alternatives to non-serious crimes

 @B3ZF547from British Columbia  answered…3wks3W

depends on the crime. Murders, sexual predators, thieves and drug dealers should go to prison. People who don't pay taxes, or accidentally kill someone etc could benefit from restorative programs

 @B27F3VNfrom Ontario  answered…3mos3MO

Yes, but only if the crimes are non-violent, and only if it was a first offense. If it is a repeated offense, they should face real consequences.

 @9SLJBJVfrom British Columbia  answered…8mos8MO

It would depend on the crime and whether the person is a repeat offender.

 @9SL68L6 from Alberta  answered…8mos8MO

Yes, only if the offender committed a non-violent crime

 @9SH9MWCfrom Manitoba  answered…8mos8MO

In addition to incarceration not as an alternative

 @9RXB7NGfrom Ontario  answered…8mos8MO

Yes, but combine mandatory programs with harsher yet shorter incarceration

 @9RPPNG7from Ontario  answered…8mos8MO

Yes, but only for first time offenders of hybrid or summary convictions, and non-violent crimes.

 @9RJ6K3Vfrom Ontario  answered…9mos9MO

Yes, but only for low-level hybrid or summary convictions.

 @9RCRNZKfrom Nova Scotia  answered…9mos9MO

Restorative services need to be provided after incarceration to ensure that former prisoners are set up for success, and not to reoffend.

 @9RC97PLNew Democraticfrom British Columbia  answered…9mos9MO

Yes, but with a focus towards rehabilitation of the individual in tandem with direct restorative justice to the injured parties, ie community service or work programs in civil service.

 @9R8WQNTLiberalfrom Saskatchewan  answered…9mos9MO

Yes, unless the crime is severe or not the first offense

 @9QZCYDNfrom Ontario  answered…9mos9MO

They should but incarceration needs to stay as well

 @9QQSLXLConservativefrom Ontario  answered…9mos9MO

Yes, but only for non-violent and non-sexual offenders.

 @9NJSV2WNew Democraticfrom Montana  answered…10mos10MO

yes but to those who don't have a heavy life sentence and depends on the crime

 @9NHGQD2from Alberta  answered…10mos10MO

Depends on the reason an individual is being incarcerated.

 @9FGSKLL from British Columbia  answered…11mos11MO

Yes, and offer many more alternatives, similar to Norway's Halden Prison model

 @9MW8Y2BConservativefrom Ontario  answered…11mos11MO

yes, but it may not be applicable in all situations

 @9ML8M3Hfrom Ontario  answered…11mos11MO

yes but only up to a certain level of crime. Stealing, drugs etc. But if they have hurt somebody on purpose, they should remain incarcerated

 @ISIDEWITHasked…7mos7MO

How do you think a victim might feel facing the person who wronged them in a conversation rather than seeing them punished by jail time?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…7mos7MO

How do you imagine justice systems retaining fairness when different victims may feel differently about what 'making things right' means for them?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…7mos7MO

How might focusing on repairing harm instead of punishing influence the way society views people who have broken the law?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…7mos7MO

Do you think focusing on 'restoring' after a crime could impact the rate of reoffending in a positive or negative way?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…7mos7MO

What role do you believe a community should have when someone makes a mistake that harms others?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…7mos7MO

Can you think of a time when talking things out with someone made a problem better, rather than making them 'pay' for what they did?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…7mos7MO

Do you believe people who commit serious crimes deserve a second chance, and why?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…7mos7MO

In your opinion, what should justice ideally look like: punishment or repairing harm?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…7mos7MO

What are the types of situations where you think forgiving and working toward healing might actually be harder than traditional punishment?

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…5mos5MO

Gallup Poll Bombshell: Over Half of Ukrainians Ready for Peace

More than half of Ukrainians want talks to end the war with Russia, according to the latest Gallup polls released on Tuesday, the war’s 1,000th day. The surveys, conducted in August and October, found that 52 percent of Ukrainians want their nation to negotiate an end to the war in Eastern Europe that has been raging for over two-and-half years. Almost four in 10 Ukrainians, 38 percent, want their military to keep fighting until it wins the war. Some 9 percent did not know or refused to share their opinion on the matter. The outlook of the Ukrainians is different from the period when the invasion began in February 2022. Just months after Russia’s invasion kicked off, around 73 percent of Ukrainians wanted to keep fighting. The support for continued fighting dropped among Ukrainians in 2023 when 63 percent wanted the conflict to continue while 27 percent preferred a negotiated peace, according to the survey. The poll comes as Ukraine fired U.S.-made long-range missiles inside Russia for the first time since the restriction was reportedly lifted by the Biden administration. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin lowered the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. The support for continuing the war has dropped among Ukrainians across the country, dipping to below 50 percent throughout the nation this year, Gallup noted. The biggest declines were in regions that are far from the front lines. Over half of Ukrainians, 52 percent, agree that Kyiv should be open to making some territorial concessions as part of a cease-fire, according to the poll. Around 38 percent disagreed while another 10 percent did not know.

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