Source: (2007) in, Gerry Johnstone and Daniel W. Van Ness, eds., Handbook of Restorative Justice. Cullompton, Devon: Willan Publishing. pp. 598-614
“This chapter introduces some critical perspectives found in this literature and looks briefly at their implications.
The critical perspectives introduced here can be summarized as follows:
1. Proponents’ descriptions of restorative justice are vague and incoherent;
2. Proponents make exaggerated claims about what restorative justice can achieve;
3. A significant move away from punishment towards restorative justice will undermine the policy of deterrence;
4. A significant move away from punishment towards restorative ‘justice’ will result in a failure to do justice;
5. A significant move away from punishment towards restorative justice will result in a failure to do justice;
5. A significant move away from punishment towards restorative justice will result in systematic departures from axiomatic principles of justice;
6. While presented as a radical alternative to conventional approaches to wrongdoing, restorative justice actually shares a great deal with conventional approaches and its introduction will simply extend the reach of conventional systems of penal control.” (excerpt)
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