New Developments in Criminal Justice

Source: (2006) In, Report on the 2006 COnference — ‘Beyond Retribution.’ Aukland, NZ: Prison Fellowship New Zealand. pp.167-171.

This section demonstrates clearly that restorative
justice is truly a worldwide phenomenon. It has
been incorporated in all the major legal systems
and is used at every stage of the justice system from
police to parole. is broad acceptance of restorative
practices can look impressive until one realises that
while countries are adding restorative justice programs
to their criminal justice systems, they are not replacing
repressive criminal justice policies and philosophy. In
fact, those policies and philosophy are also thriving.
Prison populations are rising in countries known for
their restorative justice work, often fuelled by increases in mandatory prison sentences. Earlier speakers have
reported that this is happening even in New Zealand.
It is almost as though these countries suffer from
“criminological schizophrenia”; on one hand they are
moving to more inclusive, participatory and reparative
practices and on the other they are increasing their
reliance on repressive measures. (excerpt)