What are problem-solving courts? What is the relationship between problem-solving courts and restorative justice?

What effect does the concept of restorative justice have on our criminal justice system? On society in general? Problem-solving courts began in the 1990s to accommodate offenders with specific needs and problems that were not or could not be ade uately addressed in traditional courts! Problemsolving courts see" to promote outcomes that will benefit not only the offender# but the victim and society as well! $estorative justice is a process by which the harm done to victims of crime can be reduced or repaired! %his is generally a cooperative effort between victim and defendant in which defendants are made aware of the personal impact of their criminal actions! &n addition# the victim of the crime has an opportunity to wor" with the defendant in an attempt to dissuade the defendant from committing similar crimes in the future! %he relationship is that they both see" restore the victim# the defendant and the community to the state they were in# before the crime occurred! 'dvocates of restorative justice do not dispute the need to sanction or punish offenders( rather# they maintain that punishment alone may not be sufficient for victims) healing and justice! *onventional justice systems +sometimes referred to as ,retributive justice,- as" three basic uestions. What laws have been bro"en? Who bro"e the laws? /ow shall the lawbrea"er be punished?

%he fundamental uestions of restorative justice# on the other hand# are. Who has been harmed? /ow can these harms be addressed or repaired? Who should address or repair the harms? & personally feel# the effect of the concept of restorative justice on society is one of a learning nature! &f you do wrong# you can ma"e amends and do right! +&n some cases%he concept of restorative justice# when approached with care and sensitivity to victims) needs# presents an undeniable opportunity for healing and justice! /owever# it is also very important to understand that it can present potentially very serious ris"s for victim re-traumati0ation and that the goals of one restorative justice program or practitioner may differ from another!