Criminal Justice versus Community JusticeCrime is defined as an act or omission that the law makes punishable. There are different ways to fight crime. The first, our current system, is the criminal justice approach. Also known as retributive justice, this system is aimed more at the offender than anything else. The other system, which many consider better, is community justice, or restorative approach. The restorative approach is much more victim-centered. There is debate about which system should be used to combat crime. The two differ in many ways. One of the areas in which the two differ is the question of whose crime is a violation? The criminal justice system considers crimes to be a violation of the state and punishable by the state. On the other hand, the community justice system views crimes as a violation of the offender and the directly affected community. Criminal justice focuses on retribution. It focuses on the offender and punishes that person for their crime through imprisonment and other sanctions. The community justice system is restorative oriented. Community justice seeks to help the victim cope with the violation and attempt to recover property lost, if any, during the crime. The procedure, during which a resolution is reached, is entirely different between the two. In criminal proceedings, the case is tried by a public prosecutor, before a judge and decided by a jury. Other than their testimony and possibly a victim impact statement, the victim does not have much say in the case. But in a community justice procedure, it is quite the opposite. All parties involved (which includes the offender, the victim, both families, any other middle of paper......community. Church support groups help offenders who are trying to change their lifestyles. One of the main benefits of these programs is that offenders leave the correctional system with better skills than when they entered it. Additionally, by being more victim-oriented, victims have the opportunity to improve. shaping the offender's obligations to repair the harm. Thanks to the many programs for victims, including mediation and government support for victims, they do not feel excluded from what happens after the crime. A discussion could go on forever on. which system is better and why. A better way to look at crime is not to consider this system versus that, but how can we join the two together for a better system. Each has attributes that are necessary, and combining them together would be a good start to knowing how to do it. deal with crime.