NCJ Number
217084
Date Published
2006
Length
114 pages
Annotation
One of a series of practical tools developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to support countries in the implementation of the rule of law and the development of criminal justice reform, this handbook introduces the reader to restorative justice principles, programs, and processes.
Abstract
The first of the handbook's seven sections reviews the main concepts of restorative justice, as well as the values and objectives of participatory and restorative justice. Restorative justice is a strategy for responding to criminal behavior that involves balancing the needs of the community, the crime victims, and the offenders. In this handbook, a "restorative process" is defined as "any process in which the victim and the offender, as well as any other individuals or community members affected by a crime, participate together actively in the resolution of matters arising from the crime, generally with the help of a facilitator." In Europe and many other parts of the world, this process is referred to as "mediation" as distinct from legal adjudication. A "restorative outcome" is an agreement reached as a result of a restorative process. The agreement may include referrals to programs that involve reparation, restitution, and community services tailored to address the harms the offender's crime has caused. The second section of the handbook addresses the use of restorative programs. It describes the main program types, variation in criminal justice programs, victim-offender mediation, community and family group conferencing, "circle" sentencing, restorative programs for juvenile offenders, and indigenous and customary justice forums. Other handbook sections consider the safeguards for restorative processes, the implementation of restorative justice programs, the dynamics of restorative justice intervention, program operation, and program monitoring and evaluation. 71 references and appended list of Web-based resources, United Nations basic principles on the use of restorative justice programs in criminal matters, and controversies and disagreements on the essential characteristics of a restorative justice program