Justice and punishment have somehow become synonymous, leaving out the victim or community that has been harmed. Without basic changes, delays in bringing offenders to justice and victims' sense of helplessness will continue. The restorative model makes the victim the paramount concern and uses a process that is geared to making the victim whole and that uses the offender as the means wherever possible. This philosophy represents a return to ancient cultures and the legal systems that form the foundation of western law, regarding crime as an intensely personal event. Despite current criminal justice policy and practice, widespread public support appears to exist for repaying the community. Mediation programs, restitution, and other forms of alternative dispute settlement have been established. Research is increasingly finding that the process of mediating conflict between victims and offenders benefits the parties, the community, and the justice system. 14 references