NCJ Number
183518
Journal
Ethics and Justice Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: January 1999
Date Published
1999
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This report describes the ways in which a research project on restorative justice in Australia, the South Australia Juvenile Justice (SAJJ) Research on Conferencing Project, affected practitioners, specifically those who were responsible for convening and running family conferences--youth justice coordinators (YJCs).
Abstract
The research plan evolved over a 2-year period during which over 30 conferences were observed. The SAJJ project addressed three key questions: (1) whether dimensions of restorative justice (restorativeness and democratic process) were present in conferences; (2) whether judgments of restorativeness and democratic processes varied by participant roles and social locations; and (3) if restorativeness and democratic processes were present, long-term consequences for young people and victims. The SAJJ project generated more discussion among the YJCs and between the YJCs and police officers about what happened in conferences. The YJCs became more aware and self-conscious of their practices, they had a framework to discuss the conference process in more analytical and academic terms. In addition, they gained a revitalized sense of the importance of their professional role and of the need to study conference practices in their own right. 8 references and 12 notes