The concept of restorative justice has emerged as an approach that incorporates offender accountability, victim assistance, public safety and crime prevention. The involvement and interests of these three client populations become core to the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of restorative justice programs and services.
Stakeholders share responsibility for restorative justice through partnerships for action.
In 1995, Vermont implemented such boards in every county, and in 1996 only half as many people were sentenced to prison as in 1994. Restitution to crime victims provides monetary compensation for losses they endured as a result of crime. Numerous studies have identified restitution as one of the most significant factors related to victim satisfaction with the criminal justice process. Restitution can also be made to crime victim compensation programs or victim service agencies. In Quincy, Massachusetts, and Deschutes, Oregon, local businesses employ offenders whose earnings then go towards paying restitution to the victims of their offenses.