Responding to Important Questions Related to Restorative Justice

• NCJ Number: 165423
• Author(s): M S Umbreit
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

In posing and answering questions about "restorative justice," this paper considers the nature and extent of the implementation of this paradigm in U.S. criminal justice systems and in some foreign countries.

Abstract

In contrast to many previous reform movements, the restorative justice movement has major implications for system-wide change in how justice is done in American society. Although initiating restorative justice interventions such as victim-offender mediation, family group conferencing, restorative community service, victim panels, and other forms of victim- offender dialog or neighborhood dispute resolution is important, restorative justice emphasizes systemic change. Already there are 15 States that have drafted or introduced legislation that promotes a more balanced and restorative juvenile justice system. The experience of the restorative justice movement to date has been that of operating along with policies and practices that are not restorative. Although this fragmented application of restorative justice values is not desirable, it is inevitable in most jurisdictions. With the growing number of mandatory sentences, the rate and cost of prison and institutional expansion continues to increase in many, if not most, jurisdictions. This means that the majority of correctional dollars are allocated to institutional expenses, leaving few resources for victims services, crime prevention strategies, or increased involvement of citizens and community groups in crime control and corrections efforts. This discussion notes that there is public support for restorative justice and that many restorative justice programs are used not only with minor property offenses but also with drug offenders and violent offenders. Other issues discussed are whether restorative justice can be implemented in correctional institutions and residential programs, whether restorative justice is a public or private responsibility, the nature of policies and practices that are uniquely restorative, and assessments of the impact of restorative justice.