Pat Nolan, Justice Fellowship president, said the conference brings together judges, prosecutors, policy makers, criminal justice professionals, victims advocates and prison ministries from across the country that are active in applying Biblical principles to the criminal justice system. These activists are seeking to bring healing to the victims and restore the hearts of the offenders,' Nolan told CNS in an interview. According to Nolan there are hundreds of restorative programs around the country being used to change not only the lives of victims and their families, criminals but also to bring healing to communities.
Restorative justice approaches crime with a different perspective.
Instead of seeing it as statist, an offense against the state, Nolan said restorative justice says crime is really about a broken relationship between two human beings. The object of the system is to heal the wounds created by the crime. Put the victim at the center of the process and allow a discussion of the real harm that has been done. The purpose of the law should be to restore the victim not put money in the government treasury and not lock somebody up unless they are dangerous. Nolan said restorative justice doesn't let the criminal off the hook.