Kathleen Bird of Restorative Justice Coalition of Missouri Interview

As funding for public defenders and the judicial system in general becomes tighter in today’s recession, more courts and prosecutors are looking to the process of Restorative Justice.

Former prosecutor Kathleen Bird of the Missouri Coalition for Restorative Justice explains why she feels this alternative should be considered more often. The process, explains Bird, focuses on the offender taking responsibility for the offense he or she committed instead of focusing on completing a punishment. To accomplish this through a restorative justice, the court, offender and victim generally need to work together, according to Bird.

Supporters of restorative justice programs say the system, while not appropriate for all cases, is less expensive and a lower rate of repeat offenders than the traditional system of incarceration and/or fines or community service. Critics argue that the system can be soft on criminal behavior.