After Harm: The Virtue of Forgiveness in Restorative Justice

Although forgiveness and reconciliation are not explicit goals of restorative justice (Zehr, 2015), the latter nonetheless provides a privileged space for their cultivation (Blad, 2013; Zehr, 2015). In this article, I argue that forgiveness can be conceived as a moral virtue, manifested in the suspension of blame, the deliberate choice to overcome the harm suffered, and the commitment to repair relationships. From this perspective, forgiveness emerges as both a valuable outcome and a crucial ally of restorative justice, as both are oriented toward the reconstruction of damaged relationships. The concepts of moral repair, reconciliation, and, more specifically, forgiveness as a moral virtue are examined through the lens of virtue ethics and moral psychology, showing how this approach to forgiveness can be coherently integrated within the restorative paradigm, highlighting its theoretical and practical benefits. In this framework, forgiveness is presented as a distinct form of ethical engagement and relational responsibility, whose exercise requires genuine openness to the other—a condition essential for achieving true justice. In this context, forgiveness is not only compatible with restorative justice but also finds in it a fertile ground for cultivating this virtue.