Healing Without Confrontation: Restorative Justice at Jiřice Prison

Adapted from an excerpt from Prison Fellowship Czech Republic’s newsletter

By: Alena McClure, Leader of the Restorative Justice Project – Prison Fellowship Czech Republic

At Jiřice Prison in the Czech Republic, something remarkable has happened. We recently completed the first run of our Restorative Justice program (an adapted version of the “Building Bridges” model). The key difference? This time, there were no victims present. It was a bold step into uncharted territory. Could the process still be transformational without direct victim-offender dialogue?

The answer, we learned, is a resounding yes.

Though the confrontation with victims was absent, the offenders were still guided to explore the impact of their actions from the victim’s perspective. What unfolded was powerful, humbling, and at times, deeply emotional.

At the ceremonial conclusion of the program, I sat in a room where laughter mingled with sorrow, where humility softened hardened hearts, where genuine compassion began to bloom. Throughout the sessions, the transformation in each man was unmistakable. One of the most striking elements was the voluntary letter-writing exercise where participants were invited to write a letter to their victim, expressing what they had come to understand and, if they wished, offering an apology.

This is never an easy task. And yet, not only did every participant complete a letter, but many also chose to read theirs aloud. They asked for feedback, wondering: Is it sensitive enough? Will this cause more pain? These questions alone marked profound growth and evidence of a conscience reawakening.

All of the letters were addressed to real victims, and each one was deeply personal, painfully honest and courageously heartfelt. A few even moved us to tears.

Here are some of the reflections shared by the participants:

“Writing the letter was difficult for me; I put it off for a long time because I was really ashamed… When I was writing the letter, I went back to the scene of the crime and saw it through different eyes. In that moment, you don’t realize the consequences it will have.”

“I’ve thought about it a lot, but I never allowed myself to fully acknowledge the deep consequences of my actions.”

“It’s awful to live with the guilt of having hurt someone else, and it’s hard to forgive yourself.”

But perhaps the most surprising breakthrough came from one participant who, at the start, adamantly claimed he felt no remorse and that his victim deserved what happened. By the end of the program, he quietly admitted: “Maybe it wasn’t like that. Maybe I should have handled the situation differently.” That shift alone speaks volumes.

This journey proved that healing and accountability are possible, ven without direct victim involvement. Through intentional reflection, guided conversations and a safe space to confront their own humanity, these men began to understand the ripple effects of their actions.

As Scripture reminds us in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.” What we witnessed in Jiřice Prison was a glimpse of that Godly sorrow — painful, redemptive and filled with hope.

Restorative justice is not about excusing crime. It’s about awakening conscience, cultivating empathy and offering a path toward inner transformation.

Even behind bars, light can break through. And that light has the power to change everything.