NCJ Number
232331
Journal
Victims & Offenders Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2007 Pages: 251-267
Date Published
July 2007
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This article examines components of spirituality in restorative justice assessments.
Abstract
The concept of spirituality in restorative justice practice is recognized as important but is often fuzzy and vaguely understood. This study did a content analysis of restorative justice texts and found nine distinct components of spirituality: transformation, connectedness/belonging, common human bond, repentance, forgiveness, making right a wrong, balance/harmony, rituals, and unexplained spiritual phenomenon. The conceptual clarification of the relationship between spirituality and restorative justice gives mediators/facilitators of restorative justice dialogue more tools to deepen their interactions with victims, offenders, and community members. Furthermore, delineation of these nine components offers researchers a framework for the development of instruments or tools that can be used to assess participants' experiences in restorative justice dialogues. (Published Abstract)