NCJ Number
181924
Editor(s)
Gordon Bazemore,
Lode Walgrave
Date Published
1999
Length
407 pages
Annotation
These 15 papers explore the potential of restorative justice as an overarching vision for the juvenile justice system and outlines a research agenda to support its further theoretical and empirical development.
Abstract
The papers present the perspectives of researchers and criminal justice practitioners from the Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, and the United States. The introduction notes that restorative justice was almost unknown at the beginning of the 1990’s; is now part of national and international dialogue on criminal justice reform; and is an important focus of the criminal justice policy agenda some States, provinces, and countries, particularly with respect to juvenile delinquency. Advocates of systemic restorative justice reform face both opportunities and obstacles and must meet three challenges: (1) preventing restorative justice from becoming another trendy buzzword to increase the appeal of current policy and practice, (2) addressing youth crime’s unique context, and (3) becoming a full-fledged systemic alternative. Additional papers examine alternative conceptions of juvenile justice, the history of restorative justice, and its central principles. Further papers discuss the process, programs, and practices of restorative justice, with emphasis on the central role of community service, issues of reintegration, the issue of public safety, and victim-offender mediation. Further papers discuss implementation and legal issues; impacts on victims, offenders, and the community; and issues related to the future of restorative justice for juveniles. Figures, tables, and chapter reference lists