Source: (2013) Restorative Justice: An International Journal. 1(1):70-76.
Christie’s critical stance is correct in many ways: conflicts cannot always be resolved. At times, we can only hope to live through them and deal with them as well as possible. As restorative practices tend to become consolidated and be made official over time, there is a certain risk of reproducing the dichotomous way in which legal rationality dissects and treats criminal phenomena. If this occurs, it risks losing its capacity to look into social and human problems with a deeper and more open view. Whatever the case, this new way of thinking about justice appeals to us because it allows us to connect with reality and, thereby, with the real difficulties, needs, expectations and limitations encountered by real people. (excerpt)
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