Restorative Justice Adults and Emerging Practice Edited by Jane Bolitho, Jasmine Bruce and Gail Mason

Current experimentations with approaches to restorative justice for adult offenders represents a compelling new direction in the criminal justice system. This book examines the values and challenges of restorative justice for adult offenders, victims and communities. The discussion is situated within current debate, available research, and the international literature. In canvassing the structure, content, and delivery of key Australian and New Zealand restorative justice programs for adult offenders, the distinguished authors offer critical analysis of the emergence and impact of program developements for practitioners and professionals.

This collection brings together stimulating and informed articles by experienced practitioners, leading academics and new researchers in the field. It also offers valuable insights into emerging restorative justice practice for adult offenders and provides a real alternative to the adversarial justice system.

CONTENTS

Part 1: Background

Foreword – John Braithwaite

Restorative Justice: from Juveniles to Adults

Jasmine Bruce, Gail Mason and Jane Bolitho

Restorative Justice for Adults: Should We Do More?

Jane Bolitho

Restorative Justice, Adult Offenders and the Court System

Michael King

Part 2: Showcasing Recent Developments

Forum Sentencing: Using Research and Experience to Improve Practice

Dean Hart and Gabriela Pirc

Restorative Justice and Adult Offending: Twelve Years of Post-sentence Practice

Kate Milner

Australian Indigenous Sentencing Courts: Restoring Culture in the Sentencing Court Process

Elena Marchetti

Recent Developments within Restorative Justice in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Helen Bowen, Jim Boyack and Janet Calder-Watson

Part 3: Emerging and Critical Issues

Restorative Justice for Victims of Adult Crime: An Exploration of Theory and Evidence

Kelly Richards

Best Practice in Restorative Justice Conference Facilitation: Some Big Ideas

John McDonald

What Standards for Restorative Justice and Adults? Issues in Practitioner Training and Accreditation

Jasmine Bruce

Justice for Gendered Violence: What Does Restorative Justice Offer?

Julie Stubbs

Emotion Across the Lifecourse: The Case for Restorative Justice with Adults

Meredith Rossner

Part 4: Lessons and Future Directions

Conclusion: Emerging Practice and Future Directions

Heather Strang

Index

REVIEWS

This collection provides an important corrective to one major bias of the restorative justice literature, which is a predominant focus on youth justice, to the neglect of restorative justice for adult offenders. It also highlights the strong links between academia and the practice of restorative justice. Complementing insightful new scholarly contributions are practitioners who write with a real passion and depth of experience. This book is timely, given that the evidence for effectiveness and justice seems at least as strong with adults.

John Braithwaite, Australian National University

This welcome volume grasps the nettle for future directions in the practice of restorative justice, especially in relation to adults. The contributors are some of the best scholars on this topic in Australasia and they bring their expertise to bear in a thoughtful and comprehensive discussion. This volume recognises the huge potential of restorative justice for expansion to the world of adult crime and provides a strong basis for bold policy changes in this direction.

Heather Strang, University of Cambridge, Australian National University