Dan Van Ness

Dan Van Ness has been immersed in criminal justice issues for 30 years, as a lawyer, restorative justice advocate, and teacher. After six years’ poverty law practice on the West Side of Chicago, he worked with a national justice reform organization lobbying for changes in sentencing and victim rights issues. His interest in restorative justice began in 1982 when he met Howard Zehr and Mark Umbreit while promoting expansion of community corrections in Indiana. Dan has worked with Prison Fellowship International's Centre for Justice and Reconciliation since 1996. Dan was a primary architect of the United Nations of Basic Principles on the Use of Restorative Justice Programmes in Criminal Matters. He is the author of articles, papers, and several books on restorative justice, the most recent of which are Restoring Justice, 3rd edition (co-authored with Karen Heetderks Strong) and Handbook of Restorative Justice (co-edited with Gerry Johnstone).

Review: The legacy of community justice: Reviewed by Dan Van Ness There are really two subjects of this collection of articles: One is community justice, which continues to exert influence in the juvenile and criminal justice fields. The second, and perhaps more important one, is Dennis (Denny) Maloney. Denny was an influential, charismatic, larger than life leader in the restorative and community justice movement until his untimely death in 2007.
RJ Terminology: A late addition here - but hopefully in the spirit of reigniting this important discussion for the start of 2012 - Happy New Year everyone. [...]
talk about justice: A couple of observations. We don't really have a 'justice system'; what we have is a legal system. To make the grade as 'just', a [...]
school to prison pipeline: Thanks Dan for your proposals of language as RJ moves into more areas where people interact as in schools. I work mainly in schools and [...]
David Daubney of Canada presented the 2011 International Prize for Restorative Justice: by Dan Van Ness David Daubney has been awarded the 2011 International Prize for Restorative Justice in recognition of the public policy leadership he has provided in support of restorative justice. The presentation was made during the Prison Fellowship World Convocation underway in Toronto, Canada from 28 June – 2 July, 2011. Daubney’s interest in restorative justice began twenty five years ago when he was a Member of Parliament, chairing the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice. The Committee was engaged in a year-long study of public and professional attitudes about crime and criminal justice. As it conducted hearings across Canada, its members began to hear about a concept that was new to all of them: restorative justice. They heard from grassroots organizations operating victim offender reconciliation programs in Canada and from crime victims who spoke about the personal healing they had received from their involvement in these programs. The Committee was so impressed that it recommended in its 1987 report “Taking Responsibility” – known to many as the Daubney Report – that restorative values and principles be incorporated into the Canadian Criminal Code.
restorative terminology: I like Dan's idea,and the discussion that it has generated, a lot. In South Africa we've recently taken a similar step in this direction in [...]
Restorative terminology: A modest proposal: Dan continues to challenge the movement with new ideas and proposals (the only things that is modest about them though is Dan)! Like any practice, [...]
justice: Thanks, Dan, for the effort in trying to bring some clarity to restorative justice terminology. On the the other hand, discussing what the terms mean [...]
Restorative Terminology: I really appreciate this discussion. John, knowing you, I am sure that your concern for wanting to ensure a "just peace" to address the structural [...]
Restorative living: I like restorative living and restorative practices, Dan and Ted. Then we should also like justice as something that matters much more widely than in [...]
very helpful distinctions: Hi Dan, This is a very helpful way to delineate the various "restorative" approaches. Thank you for articulating it so clearly. I struggled with how [...]
Restorative Practices: I think Dan’s proposal for “restorative living” is an interesting way of expanding the general consciousness about restorative justice and restorative practices. Thanks Dan, for [...]
Keeping an eye on potential supporters and advocates: I respect the desire to focus on systemic reforms, primarily the in the justice system. My concern, however, is that RJ advocates and practitioners might [...]
restorative practices for living justly: Ted Wachtel and the folks at IIRP have done a seamless job of helping me think about and communicate the ideas of restorative practices and [...]
the language that we use~: Thanks, Dan. Interesting post. I do not think that efforts to promote civility are restorative justice, per se. Glad to see it, however! It seems [...]
Restorative Terminology: I like this. The field and movement has gotten to the point where we need more language and to describe what we mean. It started [...]
Restorative Terminology: Bravo, Dan, well-put. I think you have articulated the dilemma very well and I agree with your distinction between, and use of, terminology. Nicely done.
Restorative terminology: A modest proposal: by Dan Van Ness Howard Zehr suggests that at the core of restorative justice are the values of respect, responsibility and relationship. Respect for others, genuine responsibility that acknowledges the true extent to which my actions affect others, and a recognition that the universe is relational and not merely material, all are reflected in what we call restorative justice. But should we apply that term to all attempts to follow those values?For example, is civility restorative justice? I just received an email message from a group called Civilination whose mission "is to foster an online culture where every person can freely participate in a democratic, open, rational and truth-based exchange of ideas and information, without fear or threat of being the target of unwarranted abuse, harassment, or lies." In other words, they want online culture to reflect respect, responsibility and relationships. They believe their work is connected to restorative justice and wanted us to inform our readers of their important work (which we've now done!).
Restorative Justice criminal system: It is good point that is made in relation to restorative justice in the school system what are your thoughts of utilsing these principals in [...]
Circling self-interest and democracy: reviewed by Dan Van Ness Lode Walgrave begins his exceptional 2008 book Restorative Justice, Self-interest and Responsible Citizenship like many writers on restorative justice. He reviews the ancient and recent history of restorative approaches, proposes and explains a definition of restorative justice, and outlines various restorative schemes. He then contrasts restorative approaches from contemporary criminal practice and identifies ways in which the former resolves practical and ethical problems of the latter. The person who crosses this familiar territory with Lode is well rewarded because he writes with analytical precision, a scholar’s restraint, and the passion of someone with conviction. He has much to say that is worth hearing. He once again explains clearly why he favours a maximalist definition of restorative justice, one that is not limited to deliberative schemes but which applies only to harm caused by crime. He carefully and thoroughly builds his case against punishment and against restorative justice being considered an alternative punishment rather than an alternative to punishment.

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