• Health Care Quality, Access, And Evaluation

Restorative justice (RJ) is a unique approach to addressing crimes and harms. Broadly, RJ is an “umbrella concept” with no universal definition.1 RJ offers an alternative to traditional legal systems through a holistic and humanizing approach, focusing on meeting the needs of victims to minimize psychological harm.2 By allowing victims to engage in the resolution process, RJ brings victims and offenders together in mediated sessions to repair harm and enhance community well-being.3 4 In contexts such as gun violence, RJ programs are recognized for their potential to foster healing and reconciliation within affected communities. However, as the authors note, encounters between “victims” and “offenders” are not often possible after gun violence. Due to the limited focus of RJ programs on gun violence survivors alone, there remains a poor understanding of the lived experiences of those affected, as well as the overall extent of the community impacted.5

This phenomenological study by Rice et al analyzes the collective lived experiences of a group of individuals who share the common experience of gun violence. Through a series of structured listening sessions, both victims and their loved ones were provided an opportunity to voice their experiences in a non-judgmental setting. Participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to share their stories, underscoring how these programs fulfill an essential need for acknowledgment and emotional support. These sessions revealed the personal impact of gun violence and illuminated the complex interplay between poverty, race, and systemic racism. Participants identified these factors as contributors to ongoing violence in their communities, highlighting the need to address socioeconomic and racial inequalities as part of any comprehensive strategy to combat gun violence. This study also emphasized the importance of focusing resources on children and youths. By channeling support and preventative measures towards younger populations, there is potential to break the cycle of violence in those communities.5

This article describes how RJ initiatives may provide a therapeutic and explanatory modality to address harms caused by gun violence and giving a voice to those most harmed. Such programs potentially aid in personal healing as well as may foster community resilience and empowerment. Further work evaluating those harmed by gun violence may ultimately demonstrate that resource allocation and policy should include increased localized, community-driven interventions, with aims to implement restorative practices to reduce harm.