Because the participation of the parties in the resolution of the dispute is an essential part of both restorative and consensus-based justice, they can both be considered forms of participatory justice. [...] The Current Experience of Participatory Justice Participatory justice in criminal law: restorative justice The failure of the punitive system to lower crime rates or contribute to greater public safety, and the disillusionment of victims and their families with the criminal justice system, are some of the factors behind the rise of restorative justice in Canada. [...] A co-ordinator invites the family and friends of both the victim and the offender to participate in a discussion to explore appropriate ways to address the offending behaviour and desired outcomes for the family or community. [...] The assurance of confidentiality and of the legal inadmissibility of what is said are often critical to the efficacy of participatory processes. [...] While there are many different visions of restorative justice in Canada and abroad, a common element of restorative justice processes is that the victim, the offender and the community have some control over the process.