Can forgiveness play a role in criminal justice?

I think that this is a horrible alternative to the criminal justice system. If someone takes the life of someone else, they deserve punishment, not forgiveness. The idea of forgiveness in the criminal justice system does not make sense. From my point of view, if it was my own family member, forgiveness would certainly not be an option. This idea of "restorative justice" is not realistic. The reasoning of this idea goes with the views of Catholic Social Teaching, but, morally, I would have to completely disagree.