Restorative justice focuses on the community needs for dealing with harm, even criminal acts. Since victims and the community are in need of restoration, the offender can choose "to make things right as much as possible." Mediation works to address the offender's needs, the victim's needs and the harm done to the community. Restorative justice is mindful of positive outcomes. (Howard Zehr & Harry Mika, Contemporary Justice Review Volume 1, #1, 1998, pages 47-55.)
The mediation process includes the participants in conflict, as well as the mediation coordinator and a co-mediator (trained s. The co-mediators serve as neutral third parties to help the participants move toward agreement.
