Restoring Respect For Justice

This book records a symposium where imaginary presenters consisting of a politician, judge, psychologist, probation officer, victim assistance worker, philosopher and mediator discuss crime and punishment. This is the springboard for a review of developments in the field of restorative justice, challenging many 'sacred cows' of crime and punishment and focusing on the people who suffer directly, the victims. A key theme is that if society as a whole does not encourage respect then it ought to be no surprise that offenders have scant regard for the property, physical integrity or rights of other people. The system itself can serve to weaken rather than improve safety and security. The book points to the dangers of a punitive mind-set and reflects on the arguments and data in favour of an effective, inclusionary, community-based response to crime.