Reaching the invisible victim: Men’s fraternity as restorative justice.

Source: (2011) International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. 1(17):1-10.

This qualitative study was conducted to examine The Quest for Authentic Manhood: Men’s Fraternity through a
restorative justice lens and to evaluate the program‟s effectiveness at meeting the needs of prisoners‟ invisible
victims, their families. The study represents the inaugural evaluation of Men‟s Fraternity in a maximum security
prison. Drawing from in-depth, structured interviews with inmates who had completed Men‟s Fraternity,
researchers identified one major theme and four, closely related, sub themes. The major theme was that the
delivery of Men‟s Fraternity in an adult male maximum-secured correctional institution constitutes restorative
justice. Theoretically, restorative justice attempts to repair harm caused to victims, victims‟ families, the
community and the offender‟s family but little, if any, focus is directed to the latter group of stakeholders. While
unintended victims of military conflict are commonly referred to as collateral damage, the researchers believe
offenders‟ families often remain invisible and their wounds and pains are seldom addressed. Men‟s Fraternity is a
much needed vehicle to include offender‟s families in the restorative justice process. The four supporting sub
themes were that Men‟s Fraternity addressed issues with (a) parents, (b) spouses or partners, (c) children, and (d)
fills a family void.
(author’s abstract)