Using restorative justice principles to address family violence in aboriginal communities

Source: (2002) In Restorative justice and family violence, ed. Heather Strang and John Braithwaite, 206-222. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Noting that many writers root restorative justice in ancient cultures, Loretta Kelly in this chapter poses two questions about restorative justice. Does it have roots in indigenous Australian culture? Is it culturally appropriate in contemporary indigenous Australian life? She asks these questions in the context of high rates of family violence – such as abuse and murder of aboriginal women at the hands of men they know – in indigenous communities. To address them Kelly examines many dimensions of aboriginal life and culture and restorative justice: the widespread problem of violence in aboriginal communities; the colonial context of family violence; the unique concerns of aboriginal women; the situation for victims of violence; restorative justice theory and practice in the indigenous context; reintegrative shaming and the aboriginal context; the potential of restorative justice in dealing with family violence; and her recommendations for restorative justice to be culturally appropriate in aboriginal communities.