Restorative justice or what?: Restorative justice in the Chinese youth justice system.

Source: (2013) European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law, and Criminal Justice. 21: 291-315.

This article aims to examine restorative justice (Rj) practices in China’s youtb justice system, seeking to
make contributions to tbe global effort of operationalising tbe notion. It begins witb an outline of the
Chinese youtb justice system. Following a brief literature review on Rj movements in China, it moves on
to introduce tbe current programmes in tbe country’s youtb justice practices, including those similar to
tbe Western notion of Rj and tbose recognised as Rj only in Cbina, and tbe legal mecbanisms facilitating
the development of restorative justice. It concludes tbat Cbina is in its own way translating tbe critical
values of Rj theory into its youth justice system, leaning towards a better one forjuveniles. Tbe development
of restorative justice and criminaljustice as a whole in Cbina is a work in progress. Local variations and
timeframe for development sbould be permissible in its legal reform. (author’s abstract)