Reaching toward a structurally responsive training and practice of restorative justice

Source: (2006) In, Dennis Sullivan and Larry Tifft editors, “Handbook of Restorative Justice” A Global Perspective. London and New York: Routledge. Taylor & Francis Group pp.527-543

Since the criticism of restorative justice programs along the above lines has been fairly fully articulated elsewhere, in this chapter I will focus on two less discussed areas. First, I will draw on two writers who offer specific, concrete examples of the shortcomings of restorative justice practices that fail to grapple with the structural conflicts that give rise to crime. Second, I will argue that it is possible, indeed critical, for restorative justice practitioner programs to design models and concrete approaches to intervention which reflect a structural consciousness. More specifically, I will demonstrate why it is important for program administrators to more consciously and consistently train their staff and volunteers to think in systemic/structural terms. To this end, I will review a number of specific educational components that I believe will be helpful in moving us toward a teaching of restorative justice that is more structurally transformative in nature. (excerpt)