For 20 or 30 years, politicians have been falling over themselves to get tougher with crime. We seem to engage in a debate every election to see who can be tough with crime. I think this gives us an opportunity to get smart with crime and to try and get young offenders off the treadmill of re-offending. Offenders must take personal responsibility for their actions. Offenders face those they have harmed.
Offenders take steps to repair harm and make amends.
Offenders develop empathy. Offenders learn affective communication skills. Offenders learn conflict resolution skills. Victims and community members have an opportunity to tell the offender how they feel. Victims have a say in how the harm should be repaired.