While some cases of abuse warrant a criminal justice or civil legal response, some survivors want other options to create safety and build healthy relationships.

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Restorative justice, which includes harm-doers taking responsibility for their actions, can promote healing for them as well as for the survivors they have hurt, their families, and their communities. When children are involved, restorative practices can support their healing and may prevent them from experiencing or using abuse in their future relationships. In all cases, survivors' wishes are at the center.

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Applying restorative practices to domestic violence cases often involves trained facilitators creating a safety plan and circle of support for the survivor. The person who has caused harm, family members, and community members may join as appropriate.

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This approach recognizes that survivors are the most directly affected by domestic violence, and others in their lives feel the impacts, too. It also reflects the reality that many harm-doers experienced domestic violence in the past, and need help to break the cycle.