NCJ Number
180748
Journal
Western Criminology Review Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: 1998
Date Published
1998
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This analysis of research on restorative justice interventions for juvenile offenders distinguishes what is known from what needs to be known and suggests a future agenda for research on restorative justice.
Abstract
The available research indicates that some restorative interventions such as victim-offender mediation seem to have a positive impact on offenders with respect to satisfaction, feelings of fairness, and lower recidivism. Available research also indicates that compliance rates are good. Some data indicate leniency at court following restorative interventions. Research also suggests that restitution and community service are associated with positive outcomes, including decreased recidivism, increased school and employment attendance, compliance with the sanction, and victim satisfaction. However, determining the program elements responsible for the outcome is difficult. Research challenges for the next decade include: (1) determining the extent to which programs and the juvenile and criminal justice process systematically implement restorative goals and values, and (2) program-specific empirical issues, including recidivism rates, compliance rates, victim and offender satisfaction rates, and impacts of recent interventions such as reparative probation and victim impact panels. 99 references