UNITY Native Youth Town Hall Findings: Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice:  Native youth voiced their concerns about the focus of punishment on juvenile offenders rather than rehabilitation or what is often referred to as a “healing journey.” Overall, healing and personal accountability are a community priority, which is seen to help restore wellness to offenders and victims, their families, and clans. UNITY Peer Guides agree that in First Nation, Alaskan, Native Hawaiian, and Native American justice, healing, along with reintegrating individuals into their community, is paramount. Native worldviews focus more on community healing than throwing away people’s lives through incarceration. It has created a generational void that results in more cyclical challenges.

Written by 92.9 The Torch