What is it about?
This article outlines the broad philosophy of restorative justice and considers contemporary restorative justice practices, presenting information on guiding principles, procedures and goals.
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Why is it important?
Restorative justice programs are operating in several countries around the world today. The potential that restorative justice offers both for enabling deliberative democracy and for providing a credible alternative to traditional criminal justice processing has already be shown to be worth pursuing.
Perspectives
Restorative justice is a victim-centered response to crime that provides opportunities for those most directly affected by the crime – the victim, the offender, their families and the community – to be directly involved in responding to the harm caused by the offence. It draws on a philosophy that gives priority to reconciliation over punishment, to healing for victims over vengeance against offenders, to community and wholeness over alienation, to forgiveness and mercy over negativity and harshness. Restorative justice processes can be applied in a variety of contexts at a formal or informal level. Formal restorative justice processes are usually initiated by criminal justice organs, while informal restorative justice processes are initiated by community groups and organizations.
George MOUSOURAKIS
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Restorative justice: Perspectives on contemporary theoretical and empirical issues, Hungarian Journal of Legal Studies, September 2018, Akademiai Kiado,
DOI: 10.1556/2052.2018.59.3.1.
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