Mediation Instead of Incarceration After Violent Crimes

"Restorative justice" is the usual name for alternatives to incarceration that rest on mediation. Professor Michelle Alexander summarizes one program as follows:

The restorative circle, a meeting during which responsible parties sit with those they have harmed (or surrogates who take their place), a trained facilitator, and people who support both parties, is central to the process. It offers those affected by a crime with the power and opportunity to ask questions, as well as describe their needs and the ways they’ve been harmed. Ultimately, the parties strive to reach agreement about what the responsible party can do to make things as right as possible. The circle can be transformative for both survivors and those who’ve caused harm.