The attitudes of prisoners towards participation in restorative justice procedures

Promoting Inmates’ Positive Attitudes toward Participating in a Restorative Justice Process: The Effects of a Victim Awareness Process

“…In a previous study (Peleg-Koriat & Weimann Saks, 2019), we examined the attitudes of offenders serving sentences in Israeli prisons toward their possible participation in an RJ program. We found that the incarcerees were very willing to express contrition, meet with victims, and do volunteer work in the community.…”

The Role of Proneness to Guilt and Shame Among People in Custody in Promoting Restorative Justice Processes

“…According to the RJ approach, this is to be achieved by unprejudiced, guided dialogue between the parties harmed by the offense and the perpetrator on ways of redressing the harm (Johnstone, 2012; Zehr & Mika, 2003). Despite these important insights, however, use of RJ processes remains modest internationally (Butler & Maruna, 2016; Peleg-Koriat & Weimann-Saks, 2019; Pereira, 2017). To address this, barriers to the widespread and effective implementation of these processes need to be examined.…”

“…Some RJ practices are easier to implement during incarceration. These include programs that raise perpetrators’ awareness of the harm caused to victims, the frequent lack of which prevents acknowledgment and eventually reconciliation, and may undermine the retributive justice process in limiting it to punishment rather than rehabilitation (Dhami et al, 2009; Liebmann, 2007; Peleg-Koriat & Weimann-Saks, 2019). A victim awareness program developed in the United Kingdom in 1998, for example, brings together perpetrators and surrogate victims (real victims unrelated to the perpetrator), who relate their tangible and intangible injuries.…”

“…A victim awareness program developed in the United Kingdom in 1998, for example, brings together perpetrators and surrogate victims (real victims unrelated to the perpetrator), who relate their tangible and intangible injuries. Alternatively, people in custody watch video clips of victims and experience simulations demonstrating the harm caused (Anderson, 2018; Peleg-Koriat & Weimann-Saks, 2019; Umbreit et al, 2007).…”

“…While RJ appears to be a promising alternative or complementary form of justice, including during incarceration, scholars are concerned that without support by the public, victims, and perpetrators, it may decline (Gavrielides, 2016; Moss et al, 2019), or be limited to minor offenses (Hoyle & Rosenblatt, 2016). For example, if victims and perpetrators do not adopt favorable attitudes toward RJ, they might be unwilling to meet (Peleg-Koriat & Weimann-Saks, 2019; Zebel et al, 2017). Likewise, negative attitudes might preclude community participation, which is key to the process, as aforementioned (Hoyle & Rosenblatt, 2016; Rossner & Bruce, 2016).…”