Source: (1999) Relational Justice Bulletin. October (4): 1-2. Downloaded 15 May 2003.
In this article Sir Peter Woodhead explains why relational justice is central to his work as Prisons Ombudsman. In general, the job of ombudsmen is to ensure that institutions and organizations wield power in accord with principles of justice and reasonableness. In that prisoners are clearly under the power of the prison institution, it is vital that there be a prison ombudsman and that the ombudsman be fair and effective. Woodhead cites Anthony Bottoms’s description of relational justice –avoiding injustice and promoting legitimacy and relationships– as a good summary of what a prisons ombudsman should try to achieve.
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