Evaluation

• Needs of the victim

  • Positive outcomes
  • RJC (Shapland et al.) - 7 year project
  • 85% victims satisfied
  • 78% would recommend
  • 2% said it made them feel worse
  • Therfore, restorative justice helps victims cope with the aftermath of a crime
• Counterpoint to Shapland et al.

  • Wood and Suzuki - restorative justice processes are not as survivor-focused as reported in surveys
  • Can be distorted as victims can be 'used' to rehabilitate offenders, rather than being helped
  • Therefore, needs may be seen as secondary to rehabilitation
• Recidivism


  • Strang et al. - meta-analysis; restorative justice vs custodial sentencing
  • Restorative justice group significantly less likely to reoffend
  • Larger reduction in violent crimes than property crimes
  • Bain - 24 studies; lowered recidivism rates with adult offenders than general community involvement
  • Therefore, positive impact on recidivism - more than other methods
• Abusing the system


  • Offender's intentions must be honourable
  • Gijseghem - offenders may want to avoid punishment, downplay actions or take pride
  • Therefore, explains why not all offenders benefit