NCJ Number
233707
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 91 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2011 Pages: 57-80
Date Published
March 2011
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This article presents an analysis of restorative justice practice in the Republic of Ireland.
Abstract
This is achieved through an examination of data on restorative justice conferencing events in various venues around Ireland. From these data, the authors analyze these restorative events through an examination of the "functionalist exchange," which occurs during the interaction between participants in such events. The extent of functionalist exchange is measured through an application of the meta-analysis first utilized in relation to restorative justice practice by Jeff Latimer, Craig Dowden, and Danielle Muise. The study assesses the extent to which functionalist roles become significant in restorative conference outcomes. The article argues that to be truly restorative, events must incorporate the extent to which remorse and subsequent satisfaction is expressed. In addition, the theories of restorative justice are shown to require a further analysis from the practitioners' perspective, which this article provides. By examining the concepts such as Tomkins' affect theory and Nathanson's compass of shame, along with the practitioner-based perspective of Morris and Maxwell, this research constructs a wider understanding of the significance of the functionalist roles of participants during restorative events. (Published Abstract)