Transformative justice was developed largely by women of color, queer and trans organizers, and survivors of violence, many of whom could not safely turn to police. Groups such as INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence, founded in 2000, and Generation Five built models for responding to domestic and sexual violence without the state.
The approach asks what happened, who was harmed, what they need and what allowed the harm to occur. Practices include community accountability processes and pod mapping, which identifies the people someone can rely on for support. The Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective has helped spread these tools.
Transformative justice is related to restorative justice but goes further. Restorative programs often operate inside courts or schools, while transformative justice aims to change the social conditions behind harm, such as poverty and patriarchy. It is a core practice of the abolition movement.