COVID-19 and Restorative Justice

Abstract

This paper discusses values and practices of restorative justice (RJ) during COVID-19. It looks at RJ values such as respect, responsibility, relationships, interconnectedness, and creativity, and considers ways to apply them during the pandemic. It describes how organizations in Saskatchewan and elsewhere are adapting their restorative processes and beginning to use videoconferencing to connect with victims and offenders and hold virtual circles. Online platforms offer an important opportunity to conduct RJ at this time of physical distancing and public health restrictions, although virtual processes come with challenges regarding access to justice and respectful communication. There is a need for discussions with Indigenous peoples and restorative justice organizations regarding the potential benefits and challenges of online processes and other technologies. There is also a need for robust research which compares face-to-face, online, and indirect restorative processes. This leads to thoughts about the potential for virtual communities and about healing from the collective trauma related to COVID-19, as well as recommendations for federal and provincial governments and community-based RJ organizations.