Victim/Offender Conferencing: The Need for Safeguards (From Restorative Justice for Juveniles: Potentialities, Risks and Problems, P 75-91, 1998, Lode Walgrave, ed. -- See NCJ-180156)

• NCJ Number: 180158
• Author(s): Martin Wright
• Editor(s): Lode Walgrave
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 17 pages
• Sale Source: Leuven University Press
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: Belgium

Annotation

Two relatively recent ideas are attracting interest among those who seek something better than criminal justice, the concept of restorative justice and the practice of victim-offender conferencing.

Abstract

The basic idea of restorative justice is that crime does not merely involve breaking the law; crime harms individuals and the community. The purpose of restorative justice is to remedy these harms and encourage offenders to compensate victims. Restorative justice measures have been seen by many people as a new option available to courts, in addition to traditional justice, but the restorative justice philosophy has different aims and different criteria by which to evaluate its success. The distinguishing feature of restorative justice is that the victim should benefit at least as much as the offender. Restorative justice and victim-offender conferencing are examined from the point of view of victims, offenders, and the community. Criteria for research assessment are proposed, and safeguards for the voluntary participation of victims are discussed. Potential problems in and the future of restorative justice are reviewed. 32 references