In what ways would understanding the causes of crime aid offenders in Research Paper

In what ways would understanding the causes of crime aid offenders in the restorative-justice process - Research Paper Example includes: priority should be given to victim needs either through financial, material, emotional or social means; to avoid re-offending by re-integrating the offenders into the community; to make offenders accept their responsibility for their actions; and rehabilitation of offenders and victims by recreating the working community in order to avoid crime and to avoid the long process of the justice system and the related costs and delays. (Marshall, 1991). The Restorative Justice process is based upon the following assumptions: the root cause of a crime could be social conditions, the responsibility has to be shared by the local government and communities because they are also responsible for such social conditions, and in order to rectify it they have to accept some responsibility; collaboration of all parties in order to solve the problems present and to achieve resolution, along with including the collaboration among victims, offenders and community are essential factors that lead toward effectiveness and efficiency; The conditions of the legal outcome should be flexible enough in order to take proactive actions in any case; and lastly, justice is meant to represent balance between both the parties and no single justification will be allowed to dominate other. (Marshall, 1991). The process of victim-offender mediation provides the victims and offenders a safe and secure place with the purpose of holding the offender accountable for their misconduct. It is a platform provided to the victims where they can, with the help of a mediator, let the offender know how much they have been affected by the crime, to receive compensation and to get some answers to their questions. Victims can be a part of the restitution plan and may claim their losses directly. Therefore, the offender has to accept their responsibility for their behavior and assist within the process to develop a plan that provides compensation for the victim. It is through this stage that the