Final Results on the Effectiveness of Restorative Justice Principles in Juvenile Justice: A Meta-Analysis

• In Event: Juvenile Justice Intervention Evaluations

Abstract

Last year (2016) we presented on preliminary results of a meta-analysis analyzing the relative effectiveness of various restorative justice principles and program elements in fostering positive outcomes for juveniles. The current study updates those findings to include the final results on the effectiveness of various restorative justice principles and program elements. The current study also reports on the effectiveness of various restorative programs in general. This project involved taking a broader perspective on restorative justice programs and included programs along a continuum from those that fully adopted a restorative justice model to programs that only included a single restorative justice component, such as restitution to a victim. We included both randomized controlled studies and quasi-experimental comparison group designs to directly test whether various features of restorative justice programs are more strongly related to recidivism. We also examined all outcomes reported in eligible studies with particular focus on future criminal behavior, victim and offender satisfaction and perceptions of fairness, and offender behavioral outcomes such as restitution and formal exchange of apologies. Overall findings and implications will be discussed.

Authors

• David B. Wilson, George Mason University

• Ajima Olaghere, George Mason University

• Catherine S. Kimbrell, George Mason University