Perception of Community on Restorative Justice and Relative Practices among Offenders

This study investigates community perceptions of restorative justice among offenders in Angeles City, Pampanga, focusing on its emphasis on healing and reconciliation rather than traditional punitive measures.Motivated by increasing interest in restorative justice, the research aims to uncover societal readiness and barriers to implementation by examining how public perceptions, empathic understanding, restoration, harm and needs, accountability, and engagement influence attitudes towards restorative justice.Findings reveal that community perceptions are significantly shaped by empathic understanding and the perceived effectiveness of restorative justice in addressing harm and meeting needs.Positive perceptions correlate with higher engagement and support for restorative justice initiatives, indicating that promoting empathic understanding and demonstrating its effectiveness are critical for community support.Recommendations include establishing community education programs to enhance empathy, ensuring victim safety through safe meeting environments and trained facilitators, and encouraging structured victim-offender interactions to foster reconciliation.Policymakers are urged to develop balanced restorative justice policies prioritizing victim safety and offender accountability.Continuous monitoring and post-mediation support are also recommended to ensure long-term effectiveness.This research provides valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and advocates seeking to promote restorative justice as a viable and effective approach to addressing crime and conflict.