“Implementing restorative justice: What works?”

Source: (2001) In Restorative justice for juveniles: Conferencing, mediation and circles, ed. Allison Morris and Gabrielle Maxwell, 267-281. With a foreword by DJ Carruthers. Oxford: Hart Publishing.

In this essay, Morris and Maxwell reflect on the ideas and research findings presented in the other chapters of this book. They note the variety of restorative justice models discussed throughout the book, and the variety of contexts in which those models operate. With such diversity, it might be tempting to ask which model is the right way of delivering restorative justice. Morris and Maxwell demur to that question. Instead, they contend, the key issues have to do with values and results. Are the values and results of a model restorative? Hence, Morris and Maxwell pose and discuss several questions for measuring restorative values and results. Does restorative justice work for victims? For offenders? For some kinds of offenses and offenders? Are restorative processes better delivered in particular locations? Does restorative justice work better when based in statute? Can restorative processes accommodate cultural differences? Morris and Maxwell conclude by presenting a number of best practice issues for development and implementation of restorative justice.