Restorative Justice in Europe – the European landscape in the context of the International Encyclopaedia of Restorative Justice

Session Submission Type: Pre-arranged Panel

Abstract

Since the 1980s modern criminal law and criminal procedural law has experienced major reform developments with regards the use of restorative elements, which have been incorporated into law and practice. One of the most prominent elements of restorative justice (RJ) in Europe concerns mediation/or victim-offender reconciliation which have been implemented as an extra-judicial, but also as a sentencing option within criminal law and procedure. New developments go even further by using restorative measures during the execution of community based sanctions, but also of prison sentences. Other regions have witnessed a strong growth of other RJ models such as conferences and circles in dealing with a variety of crimes and injustices. Ivo Aertsen and Jennifer Llewellyn as main editors of a global encyclopaedia of RJ have organised a worldwide project on RJ in its historical developments, the present practice in criminal law and procedure and the future perspectives to overcome the traditional retributive approach of criminal law through restorative policies to solve crime related conflicts between victims and offenders, taking into account the role of the community as well.

Subtopic

• Topic 5: Social Control and Criminal Justice / Restorative Justice (Restorative Justice WG)

Chair

• Frieder Dunkel, Professor, Greifswald University

Individual Presentations

• RJ – the European landscape – Restorative measures in youth and adult criminal law and organisational aspects - Andrea Parosanu, Victroria University of Wellington

• RJ in the post-sentencing stage - Frieder Dunkel, Professor, Greifswald University

• Measuring RJ in Europe – statistical data and evaluation research in Europe internationally compared - Ineke Regina Pruin, University of Bern