The premises of the social responsibility approach are that the authority of the State includes the obligation to promote the conditions of human flourishing as well as protect the democratic structure of society, that the individual offender and society share responsibility for the commission of a crime, and that punishment is unacceptable as a basis of criminal justice. Five philosophical elements of this approach are that criminal justice must operate within a commitment to human dignity, that society must develop a broader sense of interdependence and shared responsibility in dealing with crime, that socioeconomic factors need to be continually addressed, that processes aimed at breaking cycles of violence and vengeance must be developed, and that the ideal of justice will be achieved in the context of peace rather than security. The proposed principles of criminal justice focus on the realization of all basic human needs through minimal State intervention and the positive rehabilitation of offenders. Two guidelines for implementation -- to further the personal and social well-being of all persons involved in a crime and to minimize the harm caused to any person or group by the commission of a crime -- are described in terms of victims, offenders, criminal justice service personnel, and members of the community.