Spotlight on research: Restorative Justice and social justice
This is a blog by Thomas Procter-Legg, Doctoral Teaching Fellow and DPhil Candidate at Hertford College, Department of Education, University of Oxford.
Have you ever wondered how Restorative Justice can contribute to broader social justice reforms? A recent article by Thomas Procter-Legg, Jonathan Hobson, and Ernest Quimby, “Restorative justice and social justice: an international perspective,” delves into this relationship from a global perspective. Although traditionally viewed as a transformative approach within criminal justice systems, Restorative Justice has the potential to act as a catalyst for broader social justice reforms. Data from a series of online workshops involving participants from North America, Europe, and Africa highlight the complexities of this important work and how restorative practices can address social injustices.
Restorative Justice brings together those who have caused harm with those who have been harmed, aiming to repair relationships and address the root causes of harmful behaviours. This process contrasts with retributive justice, which focuses on punishment, and rehabilitative justice, which centres on therapeutic treatment for offenders. Restorative Justice emphasises the ownership of conflict by those directly involved, amplifying victims’ voices and engaging communities in supporting victims and reintegrating offenders.
The article discusses the empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of Restorative Justice – for example, how it can empower victims, reduce recidivism, and improve overall satisfaction with the justice process. It highlights how Restorative Justice has been successfully integrated into various criminal justice systems worldwide, including in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, and within post-conflict contexts.
Despite these successes, the relationship between Restorative Justice and social justice is complex and multi-layered. However, this research suggests that Restorative Justice not only has the potential to enact social justice, but that this is a desirable and achievable outcome, albeit with significant challenges.
Strategies for navigating these challenges were articulated through three key findings:
- It matters how we think about Restorative Justice: For some people, it is more than a process; it is an ideology. In this way, Restorative Justice was more than the immediate repairing of harm, but instead a tool for supporting inclusivity, addressing disproportionality, and part of a broader liberation philosophy.
- It matters how we think about harm: Participants discussed how individual and group contexts, such as geographic location, race, and religion, shape the understanding of harm. For instance, in some cases, Restorative Justice was being used as an emancipatory tool that was similar to broader social justice movements, addressing social harms, and contributing to cultural peace. However, the power dynamics within social movements must be made explicit to avoid reinforcing existing inequalities.
- It matters how we think about neutrality and power: Neutrality is often seen as crucial for facilitators, but in the context of systemic violence, it can perpetuate inequalities. The article argues that facilitators should be invested in the process, acknowledge their biases, and understand that neutrality is not neutral in many environments. Restorative Justice should move beyond repairing individual relationships to addressing historical and contemporary inequalities that shape societal power dynamics.
In summary, the article argues that Restorative Justice can contribute meaningfully to social justice if it is applied with a nuanced understanding of the complexities of social injustices. By integrating social justice considerations into restorative practices, we can enhance their impact beyond individual cases and contribute to broader societal change.
We invite you to read the full article and share your thoughts on how Restorative Justice can be a catalyst for social justice. Join the conversation and help us explore new ways to create a more just and equitable society.
“Restorative justice and social justice: an international perspective” is published in the Contemporary Justice Review and is available here. It was published as part of the work of the Global Alliance for Restorative Justice and Social Justice – a group of restorative practitioners and researchers brought together by the Restorative Justice Council (UK), Howard University (USA), and the University of Gloucester (UK).
