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

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

In recent decades, restorative justice and other alternatives to traditional prosecution have grown in popularity, particularly in response to greater input and advocacy from communities disproportionately affected by, and marginalized by, the criminal legal system. Their use has increased even in cases that have traditionally been treated with harsher criminal legal responses, such as violent crimes and hate crimes, both for adults as well as young people. This panel explores the process and decision-making involved in offering restorative justice at various stages of, and by various actors within, the criminal legal system. The first two papers examine prosecutorial considerations nationally in the use of restorative justice in violent crimes and hate crimes, respectively. The third paper examines the implementation facilitators and barriers of a specific, prosecutor-led restorative justice initiative, as well as its impact on both survivors and young people who have caused harm. The final paper summarizes the history of implementation of restorative justice in the juvenile justice system, including a focus on the role of various stakeholders, its opportunities at various system points, and how the vision for such initiatives is translated into practice.

Sub Unit

• Area VI. The Criminal Justice System / 42. Prosecutorial Discretion and Plea Bargaining

Individual Presentations

• Interim Findings from a National Study of Restorative Justice Programs for Serious and Violent Offenses - Leigh Courtney, Urban Institute; Lily Robin, The Urban Institute; Andreea Matei, Urban Institute; Travis Reginal, Urban Institute; Russell Rowe, Urban Institute

• Prosecutorial Considerations in the Use of Restorative Justice for Hate Crimes - Neal Palmer, CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance; Aimee McPhail, CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance; Besiki Luka Kutateladze, Florida International University; Melba Pearson, Florida International University

• Interim Findings from a Study of the DC Office of the Attorney General’s Restorative Justice Program - Leigh Courtney, Urban Institute; Andreea Matei, Urban Institute; Lily Robin, The Urban Institute; Russell Rowe, Urban Institute; Jeremiah Mungo, Urban Institute

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

Chair

• Neal Palmer, CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance

Discussant

• Rhokeisha Ford, CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance