I agree with both you and Sarah, restorative justice should be seen as an alternative punishment. Even though physical pain is not inflicted on the offender restorative justice upholds "the process of acknowledging the harm caused and undertakes reparative measures to make an amends,intended to be painful and burdensome for the offender". The offender is being striped of their power in order to make them accountable for the harm they have caused but gives them an opportunity to fix the damaged relationships between the victim and also the community. This form of punishment I believe is most benefical because the offender actually has to admit their wrongs, genuoloy apologize, embrace how the victim feels and make an amends, all these interactions
