Restorative justice offers a way of responding to crime that focuses on repairing harm and involving the people affected. This lesson introduces its purpose, guiding principles, and development.
Restorative justice is both a set of practices and an ethos for responding to harm. It creates opportunities for people affected by an offense—including victims, offenders, and, where appropriate, community members—to discuss what happened and decide how to address its effects. Participation may be direct, such as a meeting, or indirect, such as an exchange of letters facilitated by a trained person.
All flashcards
What is restorative justice?
An approach to responding to harm that involves affected parties in understanding its effects and agreeing on ways to repair it.
What four principles guide restorative justice?
Power sharing, equality, dignity, and respect.
What did Nils Christie argue in 1977?
He argued that conflicts should be returned to the people directly affected by them.
How did Howard Zehr's 1990 theory broaden the understanding of crime?
It described crime as a violation of people and relationships, as well as an offense against the state.
What is self-selection bias in restorative justice research?
A limitation that arises when participants differ from nonparticipants in ways that may also affect outcomes.
Quiz questions
How does family group conferencing generally differ from victim-offender mediation?Answer: It includes people connected to the parties, such as family members or professionals.
When might an indirect restorative practice be useful?Answer: When a direct meeting is unsafe, unwanted, or impractical.
What is the main purpose of Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA)?Answer: To support the safe community integration of people released from prison.
What did a 2023 meta-analysis report about restorative justice and recidivism?Answer: Small but significant reductions in general recidivism, but not violent recidivism.
Why can self-selection bias make restorative justice outcomes difficult to interpret?Answer: Participants may differ from nonparticipants in ways that also affect outcomes.