A Scoping Review of Restorative and Transformative Justice Initiatives in Juvenile Legal Systems

• In Event: Restorative Justice in Principle and Practice: Criminal Legal Stakeholders’ Thoughts on Eligibility, Implementation, and Impact

Abstract

Restorative and transformative justice initiatives are increasingly implemented in juvenile legal systems across the world. Yet, how these efforts are applied and researched remains limited. This scoping review examines international applications of restorative and/or transformative justice to understand existing approaches to promoting justice within juvenile legal systems. Additionally, the review identified common areas of focus across all studies. Research published in the last 20 years was identified using five scientific databases and studies were included if they were empirical with a focus on restorative or transformative justice and individuals entangled with juvenile legal systems. Following a review of more than 5,000 articles, the final works demonstrate that restorative and transformative justice has yet to become the ethos of juvenile focused rehabilitation and prevention services. Rather, initiatives often offer targeted points in time in which youth are engaged in a restorative process, such as initial court proceedings or following an interpersonal offense. In fact, judicial proceedings, involving court and prosecution actors, are routine approaches to implementing restorative justice. Common practices suggest that restorative and transformative justice initiatives are promising and the opportunity for system-wide integration remains. Implications for advancing restorative and transformative justice will be discussed.

Authors

• Jacquelynn Duron, Rutgers University School of Social Work

• Enoch Amponsah, Rutgers University School of Social Work

• Malya Hirshkowitz, Rutgers University School of Social Work

• Nicole McKenna, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY

• Paul Boxer, Rutgers University - Newark