“Restorative Justice: Should Canadians Embrace It?”

Source: (1998) Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada: Malaspina University-College.

Griffiths begins by defining restorative justice. As background, she also sketches the history of aboriginal justice and the history of non-aboriginal justice. Various restorative practices are identified – reintegrative shaming, victim-offender reconciliation programs, circle sentencing, and family group conferencing, and neighborhood accountability boards. This leads to comparison of aboriginal and European justice systems, analysis of the feasibility of applying restorative justice measures in Canada, and discussion of whether restorative programs are effective. In the end, Griffiths gives a qualified affirmative answer to the question about Canadians embracing restorative justice.