NCJ Number
164133
Date Published
1995
Length
123 pages
Annotation
Restorative justice is examined with respect to its nature and use, public opinion in New Zealand, advantages and disadvantages of restorative justice, and options for New Zealand.
Abstract
Restorative justice entails the active involvement of victims, offenders, and communities in the criminal justice process. Another concept is that in promoting justice, the government should be responsible for preserving order and the community should be responsible for establishing peace. The system of family group conferences in New Zealand's juvenile justice system is often described as a restorative system, although it was not designed as such and may not always operate with such a focus. Some components of the criminal justice system also have a restorative component. Options for restorative justice in New Zealand include community mediation initiatives, school and community education projects teaching rational problemsolving or mediation, and victim-offender mediation programs. Programs may operate within or parallel to the criminal justice system. Tables, index, and 175 references