Restorative Justice in Practice: Evaluating What Works for Victims and Offenders - Softcover

"This seven year study is the most important research evidence on restorative justice (RJ) in this country. The work challenges some of the myths around restorative justice – for example the finding that 70% of victims of serious crimes chose to meet the offender when this was offered to them, challenges the prevailing view that RJ is only appropriate for less serious crime. Her research has confirmed earlier findings of the strong victim benefits from restorative justice; and provided new evidence for the impact of RJ in reducing re-offending, leading to cost-savings across Criminal Justice. This book will provide essential reading for policy makers interested in evidence-based policy; for criminal justice agencies seeking to give victims a stronger voice in justice; and includes a wealth of information for practitioners who want to know 'what works' and base their restorative practice on the evidence." – Lizzie Nelson, Director, Restorative Justice Council

'This book provides a state-of-the-art analysis of restorative justice, conferences, and mediation for serious cases and adult offenders. It is essential reading for policymakers and practitioners who wish to develop restorative justice schemes that work alongside conventional criminal justice. Its comprehensive and measured analysis is a welcome addition to the research literature. This is a scholarly treatment of restorative justice for the real world and ways to move it from the margins to the mainstream of criminal justice.' – Kathleen Daly, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Australia

'The authors promised to provide "essential reading" for students and practioners. They have met that promise in regard to both their description of applications of RJ in the adult justice system (pre-trial, during sentencing formulation, and post sentencing) and in their many probing questions regarding RJ in general.'
-Eric Assur, in the Restorative Justice Online blog, 2 March 2012

Restorative justice has made significant progress in recent years and now plays an increasingly important role in and alongside the criminal justice systems of a number of countries in different parts of the world. In many cases, however, successes and failures, strengths and weaknesses have not been evaluated sufficiently systematically and comprehensively, and it has been difficult to gain an accurate picture of its implementation and the lessons to be drawn from this.

Restorative Justice in Practice addresses this need, analyzing the results of the implementation of three restorative justice schemes in England and Wales in the largest and most complete trial of restorative justice with adult offenders worldwide. It aims to bring out the practicalities of setting up and running restorative justice schemes in connection with criminal justice, the costs of doing so and the key professional and ethical issues involved.

At the same time the book situates these findings within the growing international academic and policy debates about restorative justice, addressing a number of key issues for criminal justice and penology, including:

• how far victim expectations of justice are and can be met by restorative justice aligned with criminal justice
• whether ‘community’ is involved in restorative justice for adult offenders and how this relates to social capital
• how far restorative justice events relate to processes of desistance (giving up crime), promote reductions in reoffending and link to resettlement
• what stages of criminal justice may be most suitable for restorative justice and how this relates to victim and offender needs
• the usefulness of conferencing and mediation as forms of restorative justice with adults.

Restorative Justice in Practice will be essential reading for both students and practitioners, and a key contribution to the restorative justice debate.