Police perceptions of restorative justice: Findings from a small‐scale study

This paper provides an overview of 40 years of victimoffender mediation evaluation research. This research demonstrates that victims and offenders are more satisfied with the process and outcomes than with the courts, they are more likely to draft and complete restitution agreements, they derive psychosocial benefits, the process is less expensive, crime victims are more likely to receive apologies from offenders, and offenders are less likely to recidivate. These benefits are not necessarily uniformly distributed. This "first wave" research provides a platform for the second wave, currently underway. To contextualize these findings, current and future victim-offender mediation practices are outlined.

Section: Discussion: Findings Disparities Concerns and The Futurementioning

confidence: 99%

State of knowledge: Four decades of victim‐offender mediation research and practice: The evidence

Hansen

Umbreit

2018

“…Although there is no common definition of RJ, there is general consensus among researchers that RJ prioritizes individual, relational, and community restoration, usually through the use of facilitated dialogic processes, following a personal harm (Daly, 2016;Gavin & MacVean, 2018;Gavrielides, 2008;Johnstone & Van Ness, 2007;Roberts, 2010;Rugge & Cormier, 2013). A commonly cited definition of RJ frames it as "a process whereby parties with a stake in a specific offense collectively resolve how to deal with the aftermath of the offense and its implications for the future" (Marshall, 1999, p. 5).…”

Section: Restorative and Conventional Justicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is likely that cultural factors can explain differences in how people understand and prioritize justice outcomes. For example, the Nowotny and Carrara (2018) and Gavin and MacVean (2018) studies highlight how organizational and justice-related socialization influence attitudes toward RJ practices. Moreover, given the role of context in shaping how practices such as VOCs unfold (Paul, 2016b), it stands to reason that culture plays a significant role in people's valuation of justice goals.…”

Section: Implications Limitations and Future Directions For Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, this study points to the value of infusing research practices into organizational functioning. Whether in the form of conventional surveys such as the ones used in this study and by Gavin and MacVean (2018) and Pointer (2018), qualitative field studies (e.g., González et al, 2018;Nowotny &Carrara, 2018), or pretest/posttest experimental designs, research (what Hansen andUmbreit [2018] term "second wave" research) can help organizations evaluate and improve their effectiveness and responsiveness based on data. For example, organizations can survey various stakeholder groups' attitudes toward justice outcomes and processes to help practitioners anticipate concerns, evaluate needs, and develop effective ways of communicating with those stakeholder groups.…”

Section: Implications Limitations and Future Directions For Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, awareness of justice attitudes and beliefs can help facilitators be more sensitive and responsive to VOC participants' needs, interests, and concerns. Finally, awareness of justice attitudes can inform the responsive implementation of RJ practices in various settings (see Gavin & MacVean, 2018;González, Sattler, & Buth, 2018;Nowotny & Carrara, 2018;Pointer, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Receptivity to restorative justice: A survey of goal importance, process effectiveness, and support for victim–offender conferencing

Paul

Swan

2018

As the use of restorative justice processes continues to grow in the West, it is helpful to understand the factors that influence people's support for the use of restorative processes. Working from a conflict goals perspective, this study explores how support for the use of victim–offender conferencing following instances of first‐time, nonviolent offending by youth is influenced by perceived importance of justice outcomes, perceived effectiveness of conventional and restorative processes at accomplishing those outcomes, and perceived appropriateness of conventional and restorative processes. It concludes with a discussion of implications for restorative justice research and advocacy.

The use of restorative practices to reduce prison gang violence: Lessons on transforming cultures of violence

Nowotny

Carrara

2018

In 2016, one of the largest and most violent prisons in Brazil trained staff to use restorative circles to help mediate gang-related conflicts. To better understand how restorative practices are envisioned and being implemented in this setting, and to evaluate the likelihood that this project continues, semistructured interviews were conducted with prisoners and institutional staff. We argue that, although the initial levels of violence are reportedly lower, understandings of restorative philosophies are filtered through a narrow security rationale that limits institutional and cultural change.