Back to RJ Archive

Does restorative justice work? An evaluation of the restorative justice programmes of Phoenix Zululand

Geoff Harris
June 4, 2015

Source: (2014) in, S. Maphosa, L. DeLuca, and A. Keasley, eds., Building peace from within. Pretoria: Africa Institute of South Africa. PP. 74-84.

This chapter provides a case study of a bottom-up restorative justice intervention aimed at encouraging prisoners to take responsibility for their behaviour and at transforming relationships between prisoners and their families. From focus groups and interviews with ex-prisoners and their families, the study found that forgiveness and reconciliation was frequently achieved, a finding which has important implications for the extremely high levels of recidivism in South Africa. (Author’s abstract)

Tags:

AbstractAfricaCourtsForgivenessOffenderPolicePost-Conflict ReconciliationPrisonsReentryRJ and Community DisputesRJ in SchoolsRJ OfficeStatutes and LegislationVictim Support
Support the cause

We've Been Restoring Justice for More Than 40 Years

Your donation helps Prison Fellowship International repair the harm caused by crime by emphasizing accountability, forgiveness, and making amends for prisoners and those affected by their actions. When victims, offenders, and community members meet to decide how to do that, the results are transformational.

Donate Now