Poster #117 - Healing Over Punishment: The Growing Impact of Restorative Justice in Juvenile Systems

• In Event: ASC Poster Session II

Abstract

Restorative justice (RJ) has become a popular alternative to juvenile detention for nonviolent crimes, aiming to reduce repeat offenses and build trust in the criminal justice system. This paper looks at how RJ programs can help reduce juvenile delinquency by focusing on accountability, making things right, and healing for both the youth offenders, victims, and the community. Studies like Kimbrell et al. (2023) show that RJ programs are somewhat effective in lowering juvenile crime and offer a more rehabilitative approach compared to traditional punishment. After looking at several studies and reports, this research shows that RJ is being recognized more as a helpful tool in juvenile justice. However, despite its positive effects, there are still challenges to using RJ widely, such as not having enough resources and inconsistent policies. The study calls for more efforts to increase RJ programs and make sure they are properly implemented across juvenile justice systems. This would help improve public safety and create a system that focuses more on repairing harm and reintegrating offenders rather than just punishing them.

Author

• Claire Yoon, Berkshire School