Restorative Justice

We understand that individuals and communities who have been harmed want and deserve justice. But retribution – especially long and lifetime incarceration – only doubles down on the harm done.

By contrast, crime survivors report that they want a criminal justice system that prioritizes prevention and rehabilitation over punishment. Giving people the tools and opportunity to address the harm they have caused is a restorative response that can lead to reconciliation and repair and provides a long-sought response to violence and harm.

While restorative justice principles pervade Osborne’s work, several programs explicitly incorporate its practices. These include a course that challenges people convicted of homicide-related offenses to hold themselves accountable for their actions, diversion for people facing violence charges in NYC courts, and a neighborhood-based response to community and law enforcement violence.