Toward a Theoretical Model of Peacemaking Criminology: An Essay in Honor of Richard Quinney

• NCJ Number: 194725
• Journal: Crime and Delinquency Volume: 48 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2002 Pages: 204-231
• Author(s): John F. Wozniak
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 28 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article is an examination of peacemaking criminology as a theoretical perspective, especially as it appears within recent criminological literature.

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to explain the basic elements of a peacemaking criminology theoretical model. The author first examines how recent criminological literature addresses peacemaking criminology. The literature review suggests that while peacemaking criminology is gaining increased coverage in crime-related textbooks, the coverage is often not complete or complimentary. The author notes that many criminology authors question the usefulness of peacemaking criminology as an approach for criminal justice. In the second section of this article, the author discusses his analysis of survey responses of peacemaking criminology authors. On the whole, the peacemaking criminologists agreed that the role of police should be transformed from that of crime fighters to peace officers. In their opinion, police officers should focus their attentions on human relations in order to encourage non-formal means of conflict resolution. Police officers should also focus more attention on crime prevention rather than on crime detection and investigation. Furthermore, these authors agreed that the court system should be transformed into a forum for conflict-resolution through peer mediation and victim-offender reconciliation. In the third section of the article, the author delineates three main themes emerging from the peacemaking criminology theoretical model: (a) types of crime/social harms, (b) types of peacemaking frameworks influencing the analysis of peacemaking authors, and (c) types of peacemaking alternatives provided to confront social injustices within society. The fourth section of this article describes the peacemaking criminology theoretical model in terms of its basic nature and connections. Finally, the author concludes the article with suggestions for future crime research and policies. Notes, references