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Restorative and Alternative Justice (Level 5)

Overview

Module description

In this module we introduce you to contemporary debates around restorative and alternative justice. Starting with a theoretical overview of the motivations, principles and values of restorative and transformative justice, we then analyse a number of case studies offering a number of specific empirical examples of practices in context.

Exploring both state-based and non-state-based strategies, we provide a foundation from which to critically assess alternative forms of justice in contrast to conventional state-based ‘law, order and punishment’ strategies. We also provide a theoretically informed, yet empirically grounded, foundation from which to explore the limits and possibilities of restorative and transformative justice policy and practice.

Indicative syllabus

  • Why alternative justice? Reviewing the limits of conventional criminal justice
  • Working inside and outside ‘the state’: key debates in policy and practice
  • Case study 1: Restorative justice for state-level injustices - South Africa
  • Case study 2: Indigenous community justice - Nigeria and South America
  • Case study 3: Family group conferencing - New Zealand and Australia
  • Case study 4: Victim offender mediation - UK
  • Case study 5: Sentencing circles - Canada
  • Case study 6: Community accountability groups - USA
  • Case study 7: Circles of support and accountability - Canada and UK
  • Addressing systemic injustice: transformative justice and structural change

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will:

  • understand the key principles, values and practices of restorative and transformative justice
  • appreciate the diversity and range of restorative and alternative justice approaches
  • be able to identify some of the key challenges and debates in policy and practice around restorative and alternative justice approaches
  • be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of state-based and non-state-based alternatives to conventional criminal justice
  • appreciate the social, political, historical and economic context of recent trends in restorative and transformative justice
  • be able to analyse, evaluate and compare a range of theoretical approaches
  • be able to identify strengths, weaknesses, values and limitations in current approaches to restorative justice policy and practice
  • appreciate the importance of social and cultural contexts for understanding social policy and practice.