When Ace made a decision she now wishes she could take back, the consequences were serious. Along with a group of friends, she broke into a building and caused damage: an action that could have led to a path defined by punishment and lasting stigma.
Instead, it became the beginning of something different.
Through a restorative justice (RJ) process, Ace was given the opportunity not just to be held accountable, but to truly understand the impact of her actions and to make things right in a meaningful, human way.
At first, even engaging in the process felt overwhelming.
“The first time it was online, but I was really nervous and didn’t want to show my face that much,” Ace shared.
Like many young people facing the consequences of harm, Ace entered the process carrying fear, guilt, and uncertainty. But restorative justice doesn’t rush people into confrontation. Instead, it starts with preparation.
Ace participated in pre-session meetings with a trained facilitator, where she was supported in reflecting on her choices, understanding the harm caused, and preparing for a conversation with the person affected. These sessions created a safe space, not to avoid accountability, but to approach it honestly and thoughtfully.
As she reflected on her intentions going into the final meeting, Ace said, “I thought I could fix what I had done by meeting with her…which I think it really did.”
The restorative conference brought Ace face-to-face with the building owner.
What could have been a moment of defensiveness or shame instead became an opportunity for connection, accountability, and healing. Ace listened as the owner shared the impact of the harm. She took responsibility. And then something powerful happened that our traditional systems rarely make space for.
She was offered forgiveness.
“I was really thankful too because normally someone probably wouldn’t forgive you for doing such damage,” Ace said. “But she was really nice. She said, ‘I forgive you, you shouldn’t feel sad about it anymore.’”
That moment didn’t erase what happened. But it transformed what came next.
“It felt like I was really relieved about it,” Ace recalled, “and I just felt like sitting there crying and hugging her.”
This is the power of restorative justice. It creates a space where harm is acknowledged, accountability is real, and healing becomes possible for everyone involved.
For Ace, the process helped lift the weight of unresolved guilt while deepening her understanding of the impact of her actions. For the victim, it provided a voice, a chance to be heard, and the power to choose how to move forward.
Reflecting on the experience, Ace said, “I believe in it because it can really fix a lot of things and it can bring forgiveness and take some of that guilt off your shoulders.”
Her words capture what restorative justice offers at its best: a process that meets the needs of both the person harmed and the person responsible. It doesn’t ignore accountability; it strengthens it by grounding it in human connection and real understanding.
Ace’s story challenges the idea that punishment alone creates change. Instead, it shows that when people are given the chance to take responsibility, be heard, and repair harm, transformation is possible.
Restorative justice is not the easy path, but it is a meaningful one.
It recognizes that harm affects people, not just rules.
It creates space for truth, accountability, and empathy.
And most importantly, it makes healing possible.
Because stories like Ace’s remind us: there is another way forward.
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