Results of Research from British Experiments in Restorative Justice

Source: (1990) In: B. Galaway and J. Hudson (eds.), Criminal Justice, Restitution, and Reconciliation Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press, pp. 83-107.

Evaluations were conducted of 4 U.K. Home Office-funded mediation and reparation schemes; several other schemes around the U.K. also voluntarily used the same data forms and participated in the evaluation. The experiments demonstrate that mediation can be carried out, and that it increases offenders’ sense of responsibility rather than their feelings of inadequacy and rejection. Reparation: psychological and social as well as pecuniary: is seen as a part of natural justice for victims. All of the schemes had difficulty maintaining their underlying philosophy of restorative justice in the face of a dominating criminal justice system. Recommendations for future program development are presented.