It is sad that Restorative Justice is the exception rather than the rule for dealing with crime. In cases like this, where the offender is so remorseful for their actions, it seems there is much that could be done to give some healing to the victims (or in this case their families). In the latter case where the offender spoke out to fellow citizens with DUI's, much good was done for society. Without doubt lives were saved because audience members listened and learned from the offender's expeience.

I really think that restorative justice shows us a much better alternative to retributive justice. Kohler makes a good point about how retributive justice has become somewhat of a spectator sport because there are the players and from them winners and losers. Most things that gather speculation and churn out winners and losers do not cost people's lives and reputations. I think it is tragically unfortunate that Sliwinski was so upset she had to plummel through a red light resulting in the death of three young men. The important thing to consider however is that she did not have the intention to do this, it wound up destroying her already fragile self even more. It is not entirely the point to commisserate with Sliwinski, but it would make a lot of sense to have some sort of mediation among the family of the victims, Sliwinski, and mediators. It is important to deal with the deaths and the impact on the community by seeing where this all came from, gaining understanding, and hopefully being able to come away learning something from these possible gains.