The Restorative Justice Model and its Corruption: An Outlook at the Canadian Experience. Towards the Development of a Values-Based Evaluation Tool

Source: (2002) Thesis. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid. The Centre for Restorative Justice, Simon Fraser University. Downloaded 2 October 2003.

The objective of this thesis is to illustrate in a clear and comprehensive manner the core aspects of restorative justice. Restorative justice, the thesis will argue, is characterized by its values. These values are what distinguishes it from retributive justice and guard it from a possible corruption. Despite their importance, however, scholars have not yet defined a specific set of values. As a result, no values-based evaluation of a restorative justice program has been conducted, notwithstanding its recognized potential as a protection against corruption. The development of a collection of values, therefore, becomes the central subject of this thesis. Secondary, a set of recommendations for a values-based evaluation tool will be developed. …
The thesis consists of three parts, each containing three chapters. In the first part, a general outline of restorative justice is given. A definition is developed and the nature and characteristics of restorative justice are established. In the second part, the focus is placed exclusively on the restorative justice values and their evaluation. Quickly it is recognized that both issues are significantly underdeveloped in the restorative justice literature. The third part of the thesis attempts to fill this void. A research is conducted of two restorative justice programs for youth, using a qualitative analysis of the literature available on both programs. The result of this research is a collection of clearly defined restorative justice values, as well as a set of recommendations for the development of a values-based evaluation tool. (excerpt). Abstract courtesy of the Centre for Restorative Justice, Simon Fraser University, www.sfu.ca/cfrj.