Source: (2009) Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services. 90(1):119-126.
Restorative justice is an alternative paradigm for dealing with the effects of crime and wrongdoing that seeks
to bring healing to victims, offenders, and the community. Although a key element of social work’s ethical
code is the obligation to work toward social justice, this has been viewed primarily as efforts to ensure a fair
distribution of resources and opportunities. Yet justice is also restorative in nature—seeking to restore and
enhance victims, offenders, and communities to fuller functioning. This article systematically reviews 80
social work peer-reviewed articles dealing with restorative justice. The role of social workers in restorative
justice programs remains largely unknown. Suggestions are made for enhancing social work practice in the
restorative justice arena. (author’s abstract)
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