Handbook on Restorative justice programmes

1.2 Features of restorative justice 
programmes
The following are features of restorative justice programmes:
앫 A flexible response to the circumstances of the crime, the offender and
the victim, one that allows each case to be considered individually;
앫 A response to crime that respects the dignity and equality of each
person, builds understanding and promotes social harmony through
the healing of victims, offenders and communities;
앫 A viable alternative in many cases to the formal criminal justice sys-
tem and its stigmatizing effects on offenders;
앫 An approach that can be used in conjunction with traditional crim-
inal justice processes and sanctions;
앫 An approach that incorporates problem solving and addressing the
underlying causes of conflict;