Citation

Koss MP, Bachar KJ, Hopkins CQ. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 2003; 989(1): 384-396.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1749-6632.2003.tb07320.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Problems in criminal justice system response to date and acquaintance rape, and the nonpenetration sexual offenses are identified: (1) these crimes are often markers of a career of sexual offense, yet they are widely viewed as minor; (2) perpetrators of these crimes are now held accountable in ways that reduce their future threat of sex offending; and (3) current criminal justice response to these crimes disappoints and traumatizes victims and families. In response to these identified problems, we are implementing and evaluating RESTORE, an innovative victim-driven, community-based restorative justice program. Restorative justice views crime as harm for which the person responsible must be held accountable in meaningful ways. RESTORE uses a community conference to involve the victim, offender, and both parties' family and friends in a face-to-face dialogue directed at identifying the harm, and developing a plan for repair, rehabilitation, and reintegration into the community.