Why Reentry-Based Restorative Justice Signals Desistance: Further Evidence from a Randomized Trial

• In Event: Restorative Justice in Prison

Abstract

Recent results from the Indiana Restorative Reentry Initiative (IRRI) suggest that prison-based restorative justice conferencing can signal desistance among serious adult male offenders nearing their release from prison, evidenced by their own narratives, attitudinal change, and reduced reoffending levels measured three and six years following release. In this paper, we expand on these results and attempt to uncover the "black box" of restorative justice conferencing in the context of prisoner reentry. Through qualitative interviews inside the prison (before and after the restorative justice process) and follow-up interviews in the community years later, we investigate how and why face-to-face RJ conferencing led to improved reentry outcomes for these men. We then translate this evidence into policy recommendations for corrections-based applications of restorative processes.

Authors

• Derrick Franke, Michigan State University

• Roger Jarjoura, American Institutes for Research