Safety issues associated with using restorative justice for intimate partner violence.

Source: (2012) Women’s Studies Journal. 26(2) 4-16.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is renowned for its potential to harm and its under-reporting. A study in New
Zealand explored non-reporting of IPV, and the extent to which using restorative justice (RJ) could increase reporting
of this type of crime. Although the use of RJ for IPV is heavily debated, 79% of participants in my (2010)
research considered that increased availability of RJ would increase reporting of IPV. It demonstrated the importance
placed upon their relationship by victims and perpetrators, the complexity of power in IPV, and a range of
ways IPV is reported. Like most literature on the subject, safety was identified as a priority. In this article I examine
the implications of gender and RJ, safety in terms of ways RJ would increase, decrease safety for victims, and
ways the process could be made safer in IPV situations. (author’s abstract)