“Restorative justice: Where we are and where might we go?”

Source: (2000) Paper presented at the Fourth International Conference on Restorative Justice for Juveniles. Tübingen, Germany, 1-4 October 2000.

In this conference presentation, Weitekamp explores the present state of restorative justice and prospects for the future. He notes that observations about problems with the current paradigm of criminal justice are common. Many tout restorative justice as a new paradigm offering an alternative and better way forward. Its roots are ancient and varied, yet in its contemporary forms it is beginning to influence some aspects of criminal justice. However, Weitekamp argues, its influence remains limited at this time; retributive criminal justice remains the dominant approach. Throughout his analysis, Weitekamp explicitly acknowledges some of the paradoxes, problems, and promises of restorative justice.