The Benefits of Restorative Justice for Juveniles

Law Office of Katie Walsh

Restorative justice seeks to repair the harm caused by criminal behavior. Using a victim-centered approach to address crime allows the victim and the juvenile who caused harm to opt into a facilitated conversation about what happened. One of the goals of restorative justice is to resolve the matter so it doesn’t happen again. Restorative justice works best when crime victims are willing and amenable and everyone involved is committed to a resolution. 

Read on as the Orange County, CA, juvenile criminal defense attorney at the Law Office of Katie Walsh explains more about restorative justice advantages.

Benefits to the Community

The community benefits from restorative justice in California in several ways. First, when juveniles are involved in the restorative justice process, there is a high success rate in reducing repeat criminal offenses. When communities work to reintegrate juveniles after the harm has been repaired, the likelihood of recidivism is reduced. When restorative justice is used, the process reduces re-offending by 83%. In Oakland Unified School District, schools implementing restorative justice enjoyed a 40% decrease in suspensions for African-American students in one year.

When the recidivism rate is reduced, the community is safer, and neighborhoods and towns become more pleasant places to live. Additionally, the cost of incarcerating juveniles is expensive. Restorative justice saves California money by preventing juveniles from becoming part of the criminal justice system. Finally, restorative justice builds a stronger community.

Benefits to the Victims 

When victims of juvenile crimes participate in restorative justice, they have an opportunity to have a safe and facilitated dialogue with the juvenile who harmed them. Victims can become invested in the process and feel empowered. Their needs are considered and acknowledged, giving them a voice in a system that often shuts out victims. 

Victims can get answers to their questions and share what they believe the offender needs to do to make amends. Victims report a higher rate of victim satisfaction after undergoing the restorative justice process. Victims may be able to recover what was taken from them, whether it is a material possession or peace of mind and a sense of security. Moving on from the incident and returning to their daily lives can help victims heal.

Benefits to the Juvenile Who Offended

Restorative justice has a high rate of completion or compliance. When juveniles who are charged are engaged in a non-coercive, voluntary process, those who have offended tend to follow through on agreements they’ve participated in creating. The process also allows juveniles to apologize for their actions and express apologies. It also allows them to put the incident behind them, make amends, and return to their communities with a sense that the matter has been settled. Restorative justice provides juveniles with a quicker way to achieve justice, allowing juvenile offenders the ability to make meaningful changes in their lives.

Contact an Experienced Juvenile Justice Attorney

Has your child been charged in the Orange County juvenile justice system? If so, you’ll benefit from working with a compassionate, experienced attorney who understands the restorative justice process. Contact the Law Office of Katie Walsh today to schedule an initial, complimentary consultation to learn more about how our California juvenile defense attorney can fight for your child’s rights.

Client Reviews

I hired attorney Katie Walsh to help my son when he was found with a large amount of drugs on school campus. She got us through the Expulsion Hearing, and miraculously he can go back to school at the winter semester...

AR- parent of minor client

I hired Katie Walsh to have my felony convictions expunged. She was able to expunge my record within 6 weeks of me giving her all the information. Even though technically I had a probation violation, and therefore the...

AR, criminal client

My 16 year old son was charged with possession of Marijuana, HS 11357(b). I was very concerned about what would happen to him and how this would affect his future. I contacted Ms. Walsh and she assured me that everything...

CT, parent of juvenile client

My child was charged with Felony Penal Code 597(a)- Animal Cruelty. After hiring Katie Walsh, she got the charges reduced to a misdemeanor, counseling, and 40 hours of chores at home. We come back in 6 months and the...

DH - Parent of Juvenile client

I hired Katie Walsh to represent my son on sexual abuse allegations- P.C. 288(a) and P.C. 288(b)- they were Strike Charges. After negotiating with the D.A., she got all the strike charges dismissed, and got my son...

DR- mother of juvenile client

Katie Walsh was fantastic throughout this entire process! My 13 year old son was charged with two counts of lewd act on a minor, PC 288(a) and was in juvenile hall. After hiring Ms. Walsh, she GOT MY SON OUT OF JAIL and...

EG, parent of juvenile client

My 14 year old son was arrested at school for P.C. 311 (child pornography). My son had innocent and stupid nude pictures of himself and friends on his phone. Ms. Walsh was extremely easy to talk to, and made my son feel...

GK,TK, parents of juvenile client

Ms. Walsh was a life saver when I didn't know what was going on, or how to handle the situation. My young daughter was attacked at her middle school and was seriously injured. At a time when both the school and the...

HA, mother of 13 year old Victim Rights client

I hired Katie Walsh to seal my juvenile record of PC 288(a) (lewd act on a minor), after my request had been denied by a Judge and by the Probation Department. After speaking with Probation, the DA and the Judge at a...

JW, former juvenile client

I was charged with a Felony Conspiracy charge- PC 182. After hiring Ms. Walsh she got my charged reduced to a misdemeanor right away, and now I just have to do community service and in 6 months my entire case will be...

KP, juvenile client

Ms. Walsh was like a breath of fresh air throughout this entire process. I was uncertain about the outcome, but she told me everything would be ok- and it was. She had my juvenile record sealed within 3 months of...

LR, former juvenile client

Ms. Walsh got the judge to terminate my son's probation and seal his 2 juvenile cases (Penal Code 288(a) and Penal Code 242) even though he had violated my probation by picking up a new case. By getting his record sealed...

MB- mother of juvenile client

At a very difficult time in my life I contacted attorney Katie Walsh. I am a teacher and was being harassed/stalked by a parent at my school. I wanted a Restraining Order against this person. Ms. Walsh listened to me...

MB, restraining order client

My son was charged with Lewd Conduct, P.C. 647 out of Downey, CA. After hiring Ms. Walsh, she spoke with the District Attorney, Probation, and the Judge. Even though the judge was not pleased with the offer, she was able...

MG, parent of minor

It is with sincere gratitude that I send this recommendation As a parent of a child that was arrested on a Felony Domestic Abuse charge and over 2000 miles away I had to rely on friend of a friends word that you would...

MPF, mother of criminal client

I really liked having Ms. Walsh as my attorney. She visited me in Juvenile Hall. I was charged with four counts of Robbery (Penal Code 211). This was my 8th juvenile petition. Ms. Walsh got 2 of the robbery charges...

MU, juvenile client

I was arrested for a felony Domestic charge, PC 273.5(a). After I hired Katie Walsh, my entire case was dismissed. I never had to appear in court. I felt very comfortable with Ms. Walsh- she was easy to speak with...

NF, criminal client

Katie was instrumental in helping me with a criminal matter as an advocate for me and my children when I was a named victim in a DV case. She patiently and expediently addressed all of my questions and was an invaluable...

RG

My daughter was pulled over arrested for having a Fake ID. After hiring Ms. Walsh my daughter did not have to plead guilty- which would have affected her license status. She did community service, completed a legal...

RS

My 14 year old daughter was involved in an assault and battery- PC 240/242, in Irvine. After hiring Katie Walsh the case was not referred to Court. My daughter was able to complete a class and the case will be dismissed...

SG, mother a juvenile client

My son was charged with possession of Child Pornography P.C. 311.11(a) - a charge I did not realize a child could be guilty of! As parents were beside ourselves when we found this out, and contacted Katie Walsh. She...

SH- mother of juvenile client

From San Diego I contacted Ms. Walsh about sealing my juvenile record in Orange County regarding a Petty Theft charge. She was always very responsive to any of my questions, and consistently kept me updated. Even though...

XL, juvenile client

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