The Effectiveness of Restorative Justice Practices on Victims of Crime: Evidence from South Africa

Abstract

Restorative justice is a holistic philosophy that has become increasingly popular in reformist criminal justice debates and criminological research. However, there is some debate as to whether its programs adequately address victims’ needs. To this end, this paper analyses the effectiveness of restorative justice practices on victims of crime. Drawing on my interviews conducted with victims of crime and legal experts in South Africa, the findings of this study offer support for the effectiveness of a restorative justice approach to addressing victim satisfaction. Restorative justice can enable the needs of victims to be more fully considered during the criminal justice process. This is very different from contemporary criminal justice, which has often effectively excluded victims from almost every aspect of its proceedings despite its continuous reform to protect and promote victims’ rights.

The Psychological Impact of Restorative Justice Practices on Victims of Crimes—a Systematic Review

“…In this sense, the results also highlight the evidence that participation in VOM provides victims with a sense of emotional overcome of what happened (closure), focusing on aspects such as relief and emotional strength to continue their lives (Beck & Kropf, 2015;Bolívar, 2013;Calhoun & Pelech, 2013;Halsey et al, 2015;Hargovan, 2010;Murhula & Tolla, 2020;Poulson & Elton, 2002;Umbreit et al, , 2010Umbreit & Vos, 2000;Van Camp & Wemmers, 2013). Interestingly, the results related to emotional overcome are consistently present in studies in which the participants were victims of crimes with a high degree of severity and violence (e.g., murder, physical, or sexual assault).…”

“…From these studies, it was possible to ascertain a total of 4697 participants, from 11 different countries, namely: South Africa ( Hargovan, 2010 ; Murhula & Tolla, 2020 ); Australia ( Beven et al, 2005 ; Bolitho, 2015 , 2017 ; Gal & Moyal, 2011 ; Halsey et al, 2015 ; Sherman et al, 2005 , 2015 ); Austria ( Pelikan, 2010 ); Belgium ( Bolívar, 2013 ; Van Camp & Wemmers, 2013 ); Canada ( Calhoun & Pelech, 2013 ; Van Camp & Wemmers, 2013 ; Wemmers & Cyr, 2005J. A. Wemmers & Cyr, 2005 ; 2006 ); Spain ( Bolívar, 2013 ; Tamarit & Luque, 2016 ); USA ( Umbreit et al, 2000 , 2006 , 2000 ; Beck et al, 2015 ; Coates et al, 2006 ; Davis, 2009 ; Helfgott et al, 2000 ; Koss, 2014 ; Miller & Iovanni, 2013 ; Poulson & Elton, 2002 ; Umbreit & Vos, 2000 ); Ireland ( Lavin & Carroll, 2014 ); United Kingdom ( Angel et al, 2014 ; Armstrong, 2012 ; Barr, 2013 ; Sherman et al, 2005 , 2015 ; Tapp et al, 2020 ; Walters, 2015 ); Sweden ( Jacobson et al, 2012 ); and Thailand ( Boriboonthana & Sangbuangamlum, 2013 ).…”

“…The results show that VOM practices meet the multiple emotional needs of victims, reporting a greater involvement in the justice processes (Helfgott et al, 2000) and referencing the satisfaction of the need for information (Jacobson et al, 2012;, expression, and validation (Armstrong, 2012;Barr, 2013;Beven et al, 2005;Bolitho, 2015;Boriboonthana & Sangbuangamlum, 2013;Halsey et al, 2015;Hargovan, 2010;Koss, 2014;Lavin & Carrol, 2014;Murhula & Tolla, 2020;Umbreit et al al., , 2010Poulson & Elton, 2002;Strang et al, 2006;Tamarit & Luque, 2016;Van Camp & Wemmers, 2013;Walters, 2015;Wemmers & Cyr, 2005J. A. Wemmers & Cyr, 2005.…”

“…From these studies, it was possible to ascertain a total of 4697 participants, from 11 different countries, namely: South Africa (Hargovan, 2010;Murhula & Tolla, 2020); Australia (Beven et al, 2005;Bolitho, 2015Bolitho, , 2017Gal & Moyal, 2011;Halsey et al, 2015;Sherman et al, 2005Sherman et al, , 2015; Austria (Pelikan, 2010); Belgium (Bolívar, 2013;Van Camp & Wemmers, 2013); Canada (Calhoun & Pelech, 2013;Van Camp & Wemmers, 2013;Wemmers & Cyr, 2005J. A. Wemmers & Cyr, 20052006); Spain (Bolívar, 2013;Tamarit & Luque, 2016); USA , 2006.…”

Green restorative justice approach in environmental issues to attain the sustainable development

“…Restorative justice is an approach to resolving legal conflicts by mediating between victims and defendants and sometimes involving representatives of the general public [12]. The goal is to tell each other about what happened, discuss who was harmed by the crime, and how they can come to a consensus about what the perpetrator must do to atone for his crime [13]. Things that can be done include providing compensation to victims, apologizing, or taking preventive measures so that similar incidents do not happen again [14].…”