DENVER — Restorative justice programs throughout the state of Colorado are changing the way communities respond to crimes after they happen.

Restorative justice is a system of criminal justice which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large, according to Oxford Dictionary.

The National Center on Restorative Justice reports an analysis of 31 studies found offenders who participated in restorative justice were 41% less likely to re-offend.

On an upcoming episode of Real Talk with Micah Smith, participants of restorative justice programs in Colorado describe their experiences and how the concept has changed their lives.

In 1995, 16-year-old Raymond Johnson participated in a drive-by shooting that took the life of 3-year-old C

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