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Circle Sentencing

Definition

A community-led sentencing process, drawn from Indigenous justice practice in Canada, in which a judge, offender, victim and community members sit in a circle to decide a sentence together.

Related terms

Family Group Conferencing
A restorative process, developed in New Zealand youth justice, that brings the offender's and victim's extended families together with professionals to agree...
Net Widening
The expansion of formal state control that occurs when a diversionary or community-based measure draws in minor cases that would otherwise have...
Restitution
A remedy ordered against the convicted offender, requiring them to return property, repair harm, or pay the victim directly, as opposed to...
Restorative Justice
A process in which the victim, the offender, and relevant community members meet with a trained facilitator to discuss the harm caused,...
Victim-Offender Mediation
A facilitated, voluntary meeting between a victim and the offender responsible for harming them, aimed at dialogue, acknowledgement of harm and a...

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