The nature of restorative justice

Source: Washington, DC: Prison Fellowship International.

As indicated in the title of this paper, Derek Brookes explores the nature of restorative justice. He identifies restorative justice as a philosophical and programmatic alternative to the goals and procedures which characterize present-day criminal justice systems. The primary locus of restorative justice is not in a court of law or a prison but in a structured encounter between those directly involved in or affected by a crime. The aims of the encounter are to facilitate three processes: reconciliation; reparation; and transformation. In the course of the paper, Brookes examines each of these processes in detail. A long bibliography at the end adds further value to the paper.