The politics of youth justice reform in postconflict societies: mainstreaming restorative justice in Northern Ireland and South Africa.

Source: (2012) Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly. 63(2):269-290.

Criminal justice reform plays a pivotal role in helping to foster reconciliation and peace-building in postconflict
societies. In the wake of their respective political transitions, both Northern Ireland and South
Africa have formulated proposals for reform of their youth justice systems based upon restorative principles.
This article analyses the attempts to roll out these reforms in both jurisdictions. It considers why new youth
justice arrangements have largely been well received in Northern Ireland, yet have struggled to be
implemented successfully in South Africa and reflects on possible lessons to be learnt in the context of postconflict
transformations. (authors’ abstract)