"In a society, when someone does something wrong, there are two questions the society can ask. One is, 'What should be done when someone commits a harmful act?', which is what our criminal justice system focuses on time after time. Another is, 'When someone commits a harmful act, who has been hurt and how should this be addressed?' And that is at the core of restorative justice. Think of a parent who hears a loud noise from a room where two children are playing. When they rush in, their first reaction is to understand who has been hurt; the second is to figure out how to make things right."
               "Are victims and offenders interested in restorative justice?"
"A stereotype exists that no, neither is interested, that the offender is a 'different breed', and that the victim is vindictive. But you would be surprised at how many offenders and victims are interested in restorative justice, in having dialogue with those hurt by the crime, in regaining dignity and safety. Research and studies have consistently shown that offenders who undergo routes of restorative justice in wake of their crime will not commit that same crime again--and that is contrary to another commonly-held stereotype."
               "Does Notre Dame employ restorative justice?"
"No. But I think--I hope--that is going to change in the near future. When I arrived here three and a half years ago, there were talks to introducing restorative justice when dealing with university offenses. But you would be surprised at how limited universities are by federal regulations. Even culturally, standards are in place."